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JOHN BROOKE S'

LANDSCAPES
How to design, build, and plant your garden with nature in mind H
JOHN BROOKE S'

NATURAL
LANDSCAPES

JOHN BROOKES, one of the world’s most

influential garden designers, is leading
a quiet revolution, and he is
encouraging you to join in.
In Natural Landscapes, high-
maintenance borders
and manicured lawns
give way to a host of
more natural plantings
and decorative treatments.

Natural Elements
Inspired by a series of fascinating garden case histories,
John Brookes explores ways to combine native vegetation
and materials with exotic
plants and shows how to
produce spectacular effects
in keeping with your locale.

Basic Techniques
John Brookes provides indispensable
practical advice on how to work in harmony
with nature at every stage of your garden’s
development, from the basic design and
selection of materials for hard features, to
choosing and positioning plant communities,
and introducing garden art.

Just as John Brookes set the standard for garden

design books in the early 1980s with The Garden Book,
his Natural Landscapes is the trend-setting title for
landscape enthusiasts old and new.
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/johnbrookesnaturOObroo
 JOHN
BROOKES'
Natural
Landscapes
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 JOHN
BROOKES'
Natural
Landscapes

DK Publishing, Inc.
 Contents
A DK Publishing Book
Project Editor Jennifer Jones
Art Editor Catherine MacKenzie
US EDITORS Mary Sutherland, Ray Rogers
PICTURE Researchers Mollie Gillard, Helen Fielding
Production Managers Kate Hayward, Meryl Silbert

Managing Art Editor Steve Knowlden Author’s Foreword i

Managing Editor Ian Whitelaw

Illustrator Gill Tomblin Part One:

Special Photography Howard Rice, Steven Wooster
A New Approach
First American edition, 1998
2 46 8 10 97 S 3 1 The Natural Garden io
The history oja quiet revolution
Published in the United States by DK Publishing, Inc.,
95 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
in gardening
Visit us on the World Wide Web at http://www.dk.com

What Is Natural
Copyright © 1998 Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
Gardening? 22
Text copyright © 1998 John Brookes
The principles and practice oj
All rights reserved imder International and Pan- site-specijic gardening
American Copyright Conventions. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval A Global View 24
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, Assessing Your Situation 26
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, Local Inspiration 28
or otherwise, without the prior written permission
Integrating the Landscape 30
of the copyright owner. Published in Great Britain
Basic Design Considerations 32
by Dorling Kindersley Limited.
The Finished Picture 34

Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Brookes, John, 1933— Elements of Design 36
John Brookes’ natural landscapes. -- 1st American ed.
Basic design elements in the
p. cm.
Includes index.
natural garden

ISBN 0-7894-1995-5
Boundaries 38
1. Natural landscaping. I. Title. II. Title: New natural
Changing Levels 40
garden.
SB439.B66 1997 97-14827 Alternative Surfaces 42

635.95—DC21 CIP Water 44

Furniture 46
Reproduced by Scanner Service srl., Italy Land Art 48
Printed and bound by Butler & Tanner in Great Britain
Natural Planting 50
Planting Associations 52
Conditioning the Ground 54
 Part Two: Grassland Gardens 1 16

Natural Gardening The Prairie Gardener 1 18

An in-depth look at natural habitat gardens
On an Open Plain 120
from around the world, including regional case Planting a Prairie 122
histories ojgardens created in partnership with A Grassland Design 124
their particular locations, and showing natural Creating a Prairie 126
gardening techniques

Dryland Gardens 128

Coastal Gardens ss
The Desert Gardener 130
The Seaside Gardener 60 Life in the Desert 132

Open to the Elements 62 A Desert Design 136

A Coastal Design 64 Maintaining the Dry Garden 138

Creating a Coastal Ambience 66

Mediterranean Gardens 140

Temperate Gardens 68
The Arid Gardener 142

The Rural Gardener 70 High Up in the Hills 144

The Laws of Nature 72 A Mediterranean Design 148

A Windswept View 76 ' Mediterranean Garden Care 150

Making a Meadow 78
A Temperate Design 80 Tropical Gardens 152
Making a Gravel Garden 82
Temperate Planting 84 The Exotic Gardener 154
Meadows and Hedgerows 86 Planting a Paradise 156

A Tropical Design 158

Woodland Gardens ss Tropical Planting 160

The Shade Gardener 90 City Gardens 162

A Woodland Setting 92

A Forest Clearing 94 The Urban Gardener 164

A Woodland Design 96 A Calm Retreat 166

Managing a Woodland Garden 98 Savanna in the City 168
Working in a Woodland Garden 100 Reflections of Nature 172

A Modernist View 174

178
Wetland Gardens 102 A City Design
Planting in Pots and Paving 180

The Water Gardener 104 Encouraging Wildlife 182

A Lakeside View 106

Index 184
A Wetland Design 110 189
Key to Landscape Symbols
Natural Ponds 112 Acknowledgments 190
Waterside Planting 114 Bibliography 192
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 Author’s Foreword
1 GARDEN AT Denmans, a sheltered spot five miles from the sea, close to the
chalk downs of Southern England. The garden was started in the 1940s by
the late Joyce Robinson, and from the beginning, her approach was very
different from that of her contempories. Instead of establishing large formal
flower borders, which were in vogue at the time, she decided to go for a more
natural look. Working with rather than against the limitations of the location, she
placed her plants in loose associations in the well-drained, gravelly soil typical of
this region. Later, inspired by dry stream courses she had seen on vacation in
Greece, she excavated and planted a dry stream bed. Here was planting in a wild
way, albeit using introduced species, in a medium other than a cultivated bed. In
the early 1980s I took over Joyce’s garden, taking up the reins where she had left
off. I had already experimented in small London gardens at replacing grass (which
only becomes muddy in winter) with gravel and paved areas, and I warmed to
her way of thinking. Since then, I like to think that my work at Denmans has
remained true to the spirit in which the garden was established, but done in my
own way. Recently, I have started to grow a wider range of native material, both
shrubby and perennial. Although many of these are invasive, I am excited by their
potential in terms of form and texture. I combine these with Mediterranean
plant material, which likes the local well-drained, dryish soil, to create planting
designs with which I am well pleased. My approach to the natural garden is to
mix introduced species with the wild, rather along the lines of Piet Oudolf’s
garden in the Netherlands (see p.18). I prefer this approach — as opposed to one
that is totally true to nature and creates an ecologically correct plant association
for a given area — because it gives me more flexibility. Nevertheless, some
stunning gardens are achieved taking the purist’s line, as you will see in this
book. Whatever approach you choose, I urge you to look to nature for your
guide and consult your own understanding of your location — do this, and you
cannot fail to achieve a garden that is in keeping with its setting.

John Brookes

Denmans, Spring 1998

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 Part One: 9

A New
Approach
Although there is nothing new
about people’s regard for the natural
world, there is everything new about
an approach to gardening that actively
encourages nature into our gardens.
What is meant by this, and how to go
about creating a natural garden, are
examined in the following chapters -
from integrating the garden into the
landscape so that it is truly in sympathy
with its setting, to considering various
design elements, including natural
planting plans. In Part One, the
natural approach to gardening is also
put into a historical context, for
there is much we can learn from
early proponents of gardens
inspired by nature.
0 A New Approach

The Natural
Garden
RADITIONALLY, THE GARDEN was always regarded as an enclosure
in which to create an exotic fantasy, far removed from what was
happening naturally beyond its boundaries — to be sustained by
endless cultivating, watering, and spraying. Inspired by the grand historical
home and its garden, we have opted for a scaled-down version of gracious
living, instead of a more natural, rural treatment in which the garden
burgeons from the surrounding land to be part of its environment.
Is it necessary for the gardener to be at odds with nature in this way?
I do not believe so, for there is a new approach we can take. Instead of
pinning our aesthetic values solely on color and artifice, we can rediscover
the natural elegance of our native plants; we can accept that our gardens
should be of their place, with their own climate, soil, flora, fauna, and
cultural traditions, and then design and plant them with this in mind. If we
can celebrate the distinct and diverse glories of our countryside in this
way, we will not continue to destroy its unique regional identity.

Wild wetland
A beautiful piece of “natural”
wetland planting in
Cambridgeshire, England,forms
part of man-made fenland.

Woodland floor; left

Ferns drift in their natural habitat
of deciduous woodland with fallen
trees, thriving in semishade and
damp soil rich in leaf litter.

Natural planting, right

Study the wild and you can
develop some very satifying garden
plantings. Angelica, Scots thistle
(Onopordum spp.), and feverfew
(Tanacetum parthenium) grow in
my own garden in Sussex, England.
 The
Natural
Garden

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Natural design inspiration
The swirling currents of water around rocks are simulated with a car fully raked sea of gravel in
this Tofukuji temple kare sansui or “dry garden"in Kyoto, Japan.
Such a concept of gardening is not based on some
sentimental notion about nature. It arises from a wish
to do something practical about maintaining our
disappearing habitats. We can start by using local
materials for garden structures. We can introduce native
plants, ideally grouped together as they would be in
nature. Local materials and native and naturalized plants
complement each other, and give us garden-makers a
new sense of what is beautiful — a garden that is “organic,”
whole, and harmonious. By looking and learning from
nature, we can encourage a broader diversity of wildlife
to ensure a far healthier environmental balance.
This doesn’t mean that we should allow nature to take
over in the garden.The more natural the approach, the
stronger the basic design should be, or the garden can
slip into chaos. The aim should be to create a working
partnership with nature, rather than trying to conquer it
and mold it. But nor does it mean that the natural route
is necessarily easier in terms of garden management. As
the American landscape architect Jens Jensen
commented, “Skillful maintenance is as necessary to
natural plantings as to formal ones.”
Working with nature
The Japanese are absolute masters at creating a harmonious working
partnership with nature, in this case using rocks with water and
plantings, all in total sympathy with each other.
I3
The
Natural
Garden
Moss garden
The beauty of mosses, stone, and wood are
perfectly realized in this Japanese garden.
The Japanese influence
Of course, there is nothing totally new about the idea
that the gardener should embrace and celebrate nature.
The Japanese have always looked to nature to teach them
about beauty, and gardens are seen as an art form in
which the creator attempts to capture the essence of that
natural beauty.
Over the centuries, the Japanese have evolved an
approach that extracts the essential elements of a
landscape and reinterprets them in a stylistic shorthand.
The harmonies of still pools, rushing streams, and
mountain peaks are evoked on a smaller scale in the
garden by water features, gravel surfacings, and stone
groupings, which are combined with stylized massings of
trees and shrubs. Once the idea is understood, the
composition can be pared down to a bowl arrangement
or even a single flower without destroying the imagery.
The principles and techniques of this refinement in
garden design, the bold use of pebbles and boulders, and
above all the integration of house with garden had a
profound influence on both architecture and garden
design in the West during the early twentieth century
and they are still relevant now to the natural gardener
The Japanese point to a way of attaining inner peace
through the re-creation of nature, bringing a traditional
art astonishingly close to the needs of the modern world.
14 A New Approach
The Romantic approach
Probably painted in the early 20th century,
this picture by A.C. Strachan epitomizes the
nostalgia many people still feel for what might
now seem like the lost golden age of the simple,
rural cottage lifestyle.
A contemporary vision, right
Perhaps not so far removed visually from the
cottage garden of old, this magical planting in
England by Beth Chatto takes a natural
approach, based on the irfluences of her own
time and her omi specfic site.
The traditional cottage garden
In the West, our naturalistic traditions stem from the
original cottage garden; here, the nature of the site and
the local way of life dictated which indigenous plants
were grown, but it was a garden essentially devoted to
providing food for the table. As well as growing fruit and
vegetables, cottagers might also keep chickens and a pig.
Trees on surrounding land were often coppiced for
firewood and furniture-making. Herbs were grown for
medicinal use, for cooking, dyeing, and for strewing on
the beaten-earth floor of the house.
Every bit of land was brought into production by the
cottager; flowers purely for decorative effect were not
included, simply because they were not useful, although
lilies may have been grown for use in church ceremonies
and festivals. However, by the late nineteenth century, as
communications improved and lifestyles changed, and
cross-permutations of plants became more common, the
decorative cottage garden began to emerge.
Romancing nature
The eighteenth century saw the emergence of the artistic
movement in Europe known as Romanticism. Through
their art, the Romantics — writers, poets, and painters —
espoused the sanctity of nature in its pristine, untamed
state. This concept was carried forward by the Arts and
Crafts movement, and through the work of the
plantswoman Gertrude Jekyll (1843—1932), whose
plantings “in a wild way” were revolutionary at the time,
even though her garden was still heavily cultivated. Many
watercolor artists at the turn of the nineteenth century
portrayed the garden in an idealized, romantic light, and
it is this imagery that has provided the prototype for
many of today’s gardens. We are still trapped, I believe,
in the afterglow of this so-called Golden Era.
Change has come about not so much through
innovative ideas as through such pragmatic considerations
as labor shortages and an abundance of gadgets and
garden machinery. Gardens have loosened up, and many
larger gardens now feature areas of rougher grass and
wild plantings. Borders are still cultivated, but perennials
have made an enormous return to popularity, reducing
the tyranny of the exotic, and fragile, annual. Shrubs too
are gaining in importance. This romantic style has been
extolled by a number of contemporary plantswomen.
The nurseries and gardens of naturalist Nancy Goodwin
and the British commercial grower Beth Chatto are a
15
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constant source of inspiration. In the United States,
many gardeners are embracing a more natural approach.
Hectic lifestyles and limited leisure time mean fewer
hours available for labor-intensive landscapes, and
extremes of climate encourage the use of native plants.
Early influences
To trace the development of the true natural garden we
must look elsewhere, and first to the Danish landscape
architect Jens Jensen (1860—1951), who emigrated to
the United States in 1884. He felt the only way forward
was for humans to operate as part of their environment.
“We shall never produce an art of landscaping that is
worthwhile until we have learned to love the soil and the
beauty of our homeland,” he wrote in 1939. Jensen’s
approach to ecology was also refreshingly tolerant.
“Human beings,” he stated, “are part of the environment,
with needs as valid as those of plants and animals.”
Jensen’s poetic, ecologically sensitive interpretations
of the great prairies and glacial hills of the Midwest
offered timely inspiration to Americans everywhere. His
theories were also hugely important in the development
of the park system in Chicago and in garden designs in its
northern suburbs. He made frequent excursions to wild
woods and meadows so that he could base his native
plant compositions on an accurate understanding of the
ecological processes that he observed.
Influential designers, left and above
Jens Jensen’s natural planting in Lincoln Memorial Garden, Illinois (left)
includes a stone circle meeting area. In the Netherlands, Jac Thijsse
paralleled Jensen’s work; his natural park (above) was completed in 1925.
7
The
The Dutch movement
Jensen’s technique of bringing the country into the city
would have been well understood by the Dutch biologist
Natural
JacThijsse (1865—1945), who was conscious that existing
gardens and parks in his native Netherlands failed to give
people any experience of their natural environment. In
1925,Thijsse created a natural garden in Bloemendaal
near Haarlem, following the design of the landscape
architect Leonard Springer. It contained a small
woodland, a pond and marsh, a piece of heathland, a
Garden
dune landscape, and a field of rare edible weeds. It was
intended that the garden should be visited so that its
message — that it is vital that we should understand and
appreciate our natural environment — would spread.
Thijsse went on to evolve a park, now named after
him, south of Amsterdam, in the form of a series of
woodland glades, each one creating a landscape picture.
There the public has been educated about wild flora and
made aware that the natural environment is something
we cannot replace or do without.
Thijsse was also aware that wild gardens need careful
maintenance to remove anything unwanted. He
developed what he called the phytosociological garden,
in which characteristic habitats and plant communities of
the surrounding area were re-created. In one such
garden, fertile topsoil was removed to reveal sand dunes,
since the location was near the North Sea coastline. The
Woodland walk, above
Ferns flourish along both sides of a woodland path in Thijsse Park.
Amsterdam, Netherlands. Thanks to JacThijsse’s vision, visitors today can
experience a range of protected natural habitats.
18 A New Approach
Managed associations, above
To the uninitiated, these plantings by Dutch
designer Piet Oudolf are not so far removed
from the time-consuming herbaceous border.
In fact, these are managed plant associations
rather than a cultivated garden, taking their
inspiration from the wild landscape rather than
from the theories of Gertrude Jekyll.
Natives and exotics, right
Ton ter Linden associates plants native to his
particular habitat in the north of the
Netherlands with introduced species to create
stunning arrangements. Another vital element of
his compositions is lent by his artist’s eye.
landforms were further exaggerated, and drainage
ditches, shallow lakes, and varied shorelines were
constructed. The result was a series of dune landscapes,
which eventually required only annual mowing of grass
and reeds and an occasional thinning of trees.
Nature’s mosaics
Dutch garden design in recent years has been heavily
influenced by “the natural way.” The emphasis is on
natural planting patterns in the form of a series of bold
mosaics, with careful plant selection providing an overall
cohesion. The new “liberating” principle of plant
management is to reduce intervention by the gardener
and to permit, to some extent, spontaneous self-seeding,
turning a blind eye to unruly edges and overgrown
corners of the garden. Nature is allowed to breathe.
Piet Oudolf is one of the nurserymen/garden
designers of this movement. His design philosophy is that
the form and structure of plant associations are more
important than color, which he uses purely to create
atmosphere. His designs aim for a long season of interest
and continuity of balance, with low carpeting bulbs used
to supplement spring effects. When summer flowers are
over, the plants’ appeal extends well into autumn,
making maximum use of their forms. His style leans
heavily toward the wild landscape, and the effects he
achieves truly reflect nature’s rich tapestry.
An artist’s eye
Ton ter Linden is a contemporary of Oudolf, a painter-
plantsman with an approach to gardening that can only
be described as impressionistic. “I see each border as a
watercolor; light is all important,” he says. “I like to see
tall, airy plants so that you can see tire light fall through
them.” Ton ter Linden’s plantings are indeed wonderfully
transparent, with strong colors being toned down by
silver and gray foliage woven through them. Ornamental
grasses are used in almost every border, shimmering in
the sunlight and lending an airiness to his garden, which
is in the northern Drenthe region of the Netherlands.
Although I find these new Dutch plantings exciting, to
my eye they lack punctuation in the form of evergreen
material. In the Netherlands, evergreens are used mainly
to shield the garden from prevailing winds along its
borders, not as a decorative feature. The message is to
look and learn from others’ experience, and then adapt
it to suit your own situation and taste.
 The
Natural
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Informal gardens by design, left, right, and far right
A corner of a Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden garden in Virginia
(left) is planted with yellow con flowers (Ratibida pinnata); en masse,
their contours echo those of the landscape beyond. In another garden
designed by Oehme and van Sweden (right and far right), informal
planting overlies a strong design in both summer and winter. Grasses,
which are cut down in spring, feature heavily in these massings.
New world, new gardens
The natural gardening movement in the United States
has burgeoned in recent years. More and more
traditional gardeners are joining its ranks as concern for
disappearing species of wildlife grows. Along with an
increasing awareness of the importance of using regional
plants, there is a desire to work in sympathy with the
landscape. It is this “essence of place” that the
contemporary work of landscape architects Wolfgang
Oehme and James van Sweden best portrays. They
overlay their designs with native and non-native material
planted nature’s way, in bold swaths that are in harmony
with the scale of the landscape.
The new plantings of Oehme and van Sweden, and of
Piet Oudolf and Ton ter Linden, came as a liberating
revelation to me. While the diehard school advocates
ecologically correct plant associations for a specific area,
here was another approach, one that mixed introduced
species with wild ones.
Elsewhere in the world, in Germany, Rosemarie
Weisse of Westpark, Munich, and Urs Walser of Stuttgart
have pioneered wild meadow-planting design. Their
21
The
Natural
Garden
spectacular displays couldn’t be further removed from
the enriched traditional border style and are planted on
poor, stony soil that the Germans call “steppe.”
Australia, too, has seen interest in bringing native
plants into the garden to use either mixed with exotic
species or on their own. The British gardener, on the
other hand, has been slow to take up a natural approach
to landscape design or to apply ecological principles.
Where efforts have been made, the use of vegetation has
lacked both the spontaneity and the control of the Dutch
model. The new approach continues to be anathema to
the horticultural lobby, which finds it too far removed
from the romantic ideas of nature that we hold so dear.
The way forward
To the gardener new or old I would say, to quote the
eighteenth-century poet Alexander Pope, “Consult the
genius of the place in all,” and then work with it. This
way a new garden type can emerge, one that is truly of
its place. I would like to see local materials come to the
fore, with local artists and designers offering services
that are “site specific.” By the same token, growers and
garden centers might allocate areas to native plants of
their soil and region, and not just to wildflowers per se.
We are all the guardians of this planet during our
short lives, and we can all care for our own small patch;
cumulatively these patches make up a vast amount of
land. If our gardens can develop more naturally, in tune
with their specific place, we will contribute toward a far
healthier habitat for future generations to inherit.
Essence of place, left
Meadow plantings by Rosemarie Weisse in Munich, Germany, use only
those plants that grow in their natural, unimproved habitats.
A New Approach

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HE ESSENCE OF NATURAL gardening is working with nature rather than
struggling to master it or to change it. You therefore need to know
as much as possible about the conditions in your garden — including
climate, altitude, soil type, and prevailing winds — and about the kinds of
plants that would grow there if it were left uncultivated. What happens
naturally on the surface of the earth has largely to do with what goes on
beneath it. Complex interactions of climate working upon geology, water
resources, and latitude together produce the world’s soil types and, as an
extension of this, the types of plants and animals that thrive upon it.
For the natural gardener, the challenge is to exploit what happens
naturally — taking advantage of the site’s existing conditions — while
managing it in such a way as to create a satisfying, aesthetically pleasing,
and well-designed garden. You can learn a great deal from looking at the
surrounding landscape, too: there will be distinctive natural features and
land profiles, and typical local styles and materials as well as native plants.
Echoing the characteristics of your immediate environment will help you
create a garden that looks both natural and in tune with its context.
Woodland garden, right
In this Pennsylvania garden by
A.E. Bye, native plants and natural
rock formations are harmoniously
combined in a woodland corner.

~tr.-

Prairie lands, left

The relationship between the
pattern oj harvested grain fields
and land contours could give the
new gardener clues to planting
designs in relation to levels.

A Mediterranean setting, right

Lucky the gardener with such a
backdrop. Despite the aridity of the
foreground, there is still a wealth of
native vegetation to be exploited.
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24 A New Approach

A Global View
he interaction of climate, geology, water
resources, and latitude produces the Earth’s
soil types, its flora and fauna and, where it is
managed, its land patterns too. There are
fourteen major ecological regions — called
“biomes” — distributed across five major climatic
regions. Each biome is a distinct regional
climatic type with its own flora and fauna. These
biomes describe what the world would be like
if we had not altered it. Forests once covered Coastal
three-quarters of the land surface, with rainforest Good views and mild temperatures may make up for strong, salt—laden
winds and poor soil in coastal regions (see pp. 58—67).
alone containing one-third of the world’s plant
matter. Europe and much of the eastern United
States was covered in temperate broadleaved
forest, before human incursions into it with
agricultural and industrial development. If you
leave a piece of land uncultivated for any length
of time, the original type of vegetation will
regenerate itself, first as pioneer plants, then
herbs and grasses, shrubs, and (ultimately) trees.

Your piece of the earth

We do not garden in a vacuum. Your particular
plot is part of a landscape, a region, a landmass, Wetland
a climatic zone, all of which affect its conditions Wetlands such as bog areas,.pools, and streams are rich habitats ideal for
lush plant growth and varied wildlife (see pp. 102—115).
and what you can grow. Of key importance is
the type of habitat and the setting of your site.
Whether it is by the sea, in a town, on marshland,
or in semi-desert, there will be characteristic
factors that affect how you can best plan and
plant your garden. This book covers the principal
types of setting with which most gardeners are
faced, and provides strategies for making the most
of the conditions that are typically found in a
given locale: Coastal,Temperate, Woodland,
Wetland, Grassland, Dryland, Mediterranean,
Tropical or Subtropical, and City. It may be that
Mediterranean
more than one category applies to your garden -
The sunny, semiarid conditions found in Mediterranean regions suit a
coastal and temperate, for example — and a city wide range of herbs and shrubs that need little water (see pp. 140—151).

garden may be in any one of them.

 25

What
Is
Natural
Temperate Woodland

Gardening?
Temperate regions offer conditions that suit a wide range of plants, with Many bulbs, ferns, and other shade—tolerant plants will grow
relatively mild temperatures and sufficient rainfall (see pp. 68—87). beneath the canopy of deciduous trees (see pp. 88—101).

Grassland Dryland
In natural grassland, such as prairies or pampas, grasses grow along with In dryland and desert regions, a range of extraordinary drought—tolerant
wilcflowers, and trees are scarce or absent (see pp. 116—127). plants thrive in unpromising conditions (see pp. 128—139).

Tropical City
The heat and humidity in the tropics and subtropics make for rapid plant Urban gardens typically offer sheltered sites, with milder temperatures,
growth, creating a junglelike fffect (see pp. 152—161). modified by the concentration of buildings (see pp. 162—1 S3).
26 A New Approach

Assessing Your Situation

here is a frequent wail of “Oh, nothing will grow on my Clay-tiled roofs

clay/chalky/waterlogged soil.” What is meant is that nothing Winter field

patterns
exotic will grow. The reply must be: “But you are surrounded by
lush woodland or verdant countryside. Don’t do anything and Church

something will grow.” Work with what you have — why fight it?
Central to this approach is an assessment of your site, including
its orientation, rainfall, prevailing winds, and locale. Unlike
conventional gardens, many natural ones are most distinctive
when strongly tempered by the elements — on a windy site,
a boggy one, in a desert setting, or by the ocean — where they
represent not only a definite plant community but a clear
vernacular style as well. When you look at a landscape, you see
the influence of many natural factors — geology, soil, weather —
and of cultivation and management. There may be various specific
habitats within this — mixed-species thickets, rolling hills,
coppiced woods, marshes. These are the areas where you may
study native plants, their associations, and their growing habits.

Gently sloping fields

Small country lanes

Village of buildings
largely constructed
of local brick

Broad-leaved
woodland_ The view from
above
An aerial photograph
Steep grassland
of the immediate
on hillside
area will elaborate
upon much of the
information already
Local map given by your large-
A detailed large-scale scale map, showing
map of your area will colours, materials, and
tell you about its three-dimensional
topography — contours, forms and thus
location of open land, giving you a stronger
woods, and water — sense of the local
and provide clues characteristics.
from place names.
 27

The garden in context

What
The boundary of this English
garden is deliberately blurred
so that it is hard to tell
where the garden ends and
the landscape begins.
Sweeping curves and native

Is
trees in the garden provide
further links with the

Natural
surrounding land.

Gardening?
Buildings in Context

Architectural clues Close-up detail

Materials provide clues to soil type and local Although the house is not built directly on pure
geology: this brick, tile, andjlint house in Sussex, chalk, it is near enough to a chalk area for flint
southern England, is on clay, but near chalk. to have been used in its construction.

Learning from
the Land
Within the broad picture of
your regional landscape there
may be a range of different
types of habitat, any of which
may suggest inspiration for
your garden, depending on
your site. Refining your focus
still further look at the
particular plant associations
that occur in each of these
specific habitats. Downland landscape Woodland habitat Beech trees (Tagus sp.)
28 A New Approach

Local
Inspiration
volving a style for your garden calls for a
design that complements not only the land
itself but also the local architecture, traditions,
and culture. Local distinctiveness — the
characteristics of your particular area — can be a
great source of inspiration. Get a feel for this by
walking around your area and noting typical
planting associations and landscape features, in
addition to traditional materials and vernacular
styles. The latter will tell you of the locally
accessible materials and past construction methods
and patterns. Look at walls, fences, and gates,
too — anything that can provide clues. Notice
scale and proportion, including how these relate
to nearby features. All these factors will help
integrate the garden into its place. If you live in
an intensively farmed or built-up area where
much of the indigenous wildlife has disappeared,
the local library may be able to provide you with
information about the native flora and fauna, as
well as literature on the history of the people
and the place. Look out, too, for local names for
roads, houses, plants, even fields and crops — they
may tell you a lot about your neighborhood.

Provencal stone, right

The soft colors of these roughly
cut stone bricks from Provence
in France are indicative of the
colors of the earth that overlaid
the uncut stone.

Vineyards, right
The geometric designs of early
European gardens may well have
been inspired by the formalized
cultivated Mediterranean landscape.
 29

Prairie vista, left

What
Low horizontal lines
typify the prairie
landscape in the
United States.

Farm fences, right

Is
Post-and-railfences
are a common sight in

Natural
farmed prairie areas.

Gardening?
Prairie ranch
house, above
Meadow reminiscent
of wild prairie fronts
a typical farmhouse.

- Roof tiles, right

Terra-cotta roof tiles
represent a long craft
tradition in many
Mediterranean areas.

Mediterranean
style, above
Local materials give
this southern French
home its regional feel.
30 A New Approach

Integrating
the Landscape
orrowing a type or pattern of landscape from outside the garden will
not only enlarge the apparent size of your plot but also link it to its
terrain — an essential part of creating a natural garden. In exposed sites,
or where the outlook is marred by an eyesore, a framed view may be
more successful than a panoramic one; it may mean siting a tree to mask
part of the view or to mirror the form of another tree beyond. This kind of
echo also helps to create a transition between the domestic scale of a
garden and the much larger scale of the landscape. Look at the views
from upstairs windows as well as from ground level; you may discover
attractions that can be opened up to a lower viewpoint by removing part
of a boundary. If so, check the direction of the prevailing wind, because
you may need to provide some sort of screen or planting to filter it.

An atmosphere of
the veldt, above
Patrick Watson has
brought the dried-up,
blanched-out aridity
oj the African veldt
into the confines of
this suburban
Johannesburg garden.

Echoing a water
course, left
The chatter of natural
water through boulders
andjieldstone is
implied in this
Connecticut garden
designed by Janis Hall.
• * 3
::vw#A,;

What
Is
Natural
Gardening?
Stone echoes, above
The natural rock outcrops oj this
Argentinian pampas garden
provide a recurring theme in the
overall design hy John Brookes.

Relating to the desert, left

Here modernWestern living is
cleverly integrated by Philip
Van Wyck into one oj the most
extreme and complicated natural
habitats in the world, the Sonoran
Desert, Arizona.

Reflections of nature, above

The water line oj this swimming
pool in a Long Island garden
byWoljgang Oehme and James
ran Sweden repeats the broad
horizontal sweep of the natural
water beyond.
32 A New Approach

Evolution of a Plan
Basic Design The original analysis of the property
opposite is shown in the box below.
Considerations For the second stage, I took a piece
of tracing paper and laid it over the
hile you might know the “feel” that you want to achieve in
existing plan. 1 then amended the
your garden, the actual nuts and bolts of achieving this layout of the garden, taking in the
demand planning. This is essentially a two-stage process. First, you owners’ wishes, while at the same
need to make an accurate survey of your plot. The site analysis time drawing out its natural features.

should include every aspect, from orientation, existing vegetation, There are two major changes. First,
I particularly wanted to make a
soil and weather conditions to wildlife features. The second stage
feature of the stream by opening it
is to decide what your own requirements are. These might include
out to create a pond. Second, I put
opening up views, space for sitting and entertaining, access and
in a new access drive from the side
storage, where to put compost bins, whether you want a kitchen lane — the existing entrance to the
garden, flowers for cutting, and so on. Eventually, all these street had become a danger spot due
elements should blend harmoniously into their surroundings. to increased traffic.

The Site
End of neighbouring
When making a survey of your
house
site — here a traditional property
in the north of England — first
take fairly accurate measurements
and sketch the outline of the area Scrub of
hawthorn hedge
on graph paper. Mark the
entrances and exits, and all other
relevant features of the garden,
Loose hedge
such as:

Rising ground
The relationship of your house
to the garden
Constantly running stream
The topography of your ground with culverts at either end

(i.e. changes of level)

Shelter for waterfowl
Any drainage patterns

Any damp areas

Tree and shrub positions, plus

Winter shade from copper
the life cycles of major plants beech almost to house

Patterns of light and shade

from trees or buildings on
Formal feature
your site
Old coach house
The direction of any prevailing
winds Gravel courtyard

Orientation of the sun

Privet hedge
Any wildlife patterns that you
recognize, such as animal runs. Vehicle entrance
 33

What
Is
New trees
These create
Graveled area

Natural
additional
Provides a useful
screening.
area for storage.

Mound
A mound built
from excavated
pond soil screens
Open views-
the neighbors.
Much of the loose

Gardening?
hedging has been
New driveway
removed to allow
Access is now from
views of the
a safe side lane.
countryside beyond.

Loose hedging
Rough grass_ This old feature
This has been left of the garden has
to be colonized by been left to
wildflowers. ensure privacy.

Pond edges- New trees

To create a natural These help to
effect, the pond has screen the garden
a gentle grassed from the road.
bank on one side,
and a sharp edge
on the other side. Natural pond
The stream has
Bridge_ been opened out
A bridge crosses the to create a pond.
stream to provide
access to both parts
of the garden.

Lawn
Wooden steps _ Mown lawn
Made from railway sweeps away
sleepers, these steps from the house.
gently slope down
from a side entrance,

Flower garden -
Provides color and
scent to enjoy from . Stone wall
the terrace. The old entrance
from the street
Terrace_ has been blocked
An outdoor room by a wall made
for sitting out. of local stone.
34 A New Approach

The Finished Picture

his Sussex garden in England demonstrates all the aspects
of designing a natural garden that have been discussed in the
preceding pages. Over the years, 1 have made suggestions to the
owners about opening up the garden to the amazing view that
it has on either side to a great sweep of the South Downs. The
original garden plan did not take the view into account, and the
detail it contained was always dwarfed by the landscape rather than
including and complementing it. Near to the house the garden
is at its most formal, with a brick terrace leading from the
conservatory to a little pavilion that gives a vantage point from
which to enjoy the incredible south-facing view. The pavilion is
surrounded by decorative shrubs and perennials that do not
clutter the view, and a planting of species that provide flowers
throughout spring and summer also brings berries and colorful
foliage in autumn. The middle distance forms a transitional area
to the wildness beyond, with the pond (created by damming a
stream) acting as a watery ha-ha that keeps out deer and rabbits
but provides a habitat for nesting waterfowl. Throughout winter,
a sward of cattails (7ypha species) gives a decorative, yet
naturalistic, appearance to the pond.

The pavilion © Exotic planting ©

Steps lead from a conservatory to a small pavilion, which provides a Tucked into the existing natural vegetation, exotics — in this case
panoramic view of the South Downs beyond the garden. Gunnera manicata — introduce variety of form into the planting.
 35

What
slandi

Is
Natural
Former central axis

Open to

Gardening?
view

Pool house

boundary

16 m
i

65 ft

Key

Throughout the book, arrows

on the plans show the
viewpoint for each photograph,
the numbers corresponding to
those of the captions.

Denotes
photographer's
viewpoint

Opening up the views ®

The removal of the hedges that
once divided the garden into rooms
has created long views diagonally
across the garden.

The wider landscape ©

Beyond the pool and a cultivated
field, an impressive sweep oj
grassy download rises up to form
a green backdrop to the garden.
36 A New Approach

Elements
of Design
he PRIME OBJECTIVE in natural gardening is to integrate the garden
into its setting by any means possible. This is obviously more
difficult to do if you live in a terraced house in an urban location,
but you can still achieve a harmonious marrying of both hard landscape
and vegetation by taking note of the style and materials used in building
construction and boundaries, as well as the surrounding plants, natural
and cultivated. While planting will be the main feature that defines the
character of your garden, boundaries, changes of level, pergolas, paving,
and even furniture can add strong elements to your design. A water
feature is almost essential if you wish to encourage a diversity of wildlife,
and this can range from a small pool, if that is all that the scale of your
garden allows, to a larger expanse of water bordered by a boggy area in
which to grow marginal plants. Even a traditional swimming pool can
be mellowed by the use of a soft internal color and by sympathetic
design of its surroundings and accompanying structures.
Plants for definition, right
To prevent naturally planted areas
from degenerating into a messy
mass of plant material, include
some strong plant forms such as
this Eryngium giganteum.

An integrated design, right

Modern structures contrast well
with a soft overlay of plants in this
city garden by Bonita Bulaitis in
London. The looser the planting, the
stronger the design should be.

Water in the city, left

This brimming pool is a good
blend of urban and natural
elements. The inclusion of a rock
demonstrates how a water feature
can also be sculptural.
1 '$Mi' $
38 A New Approach

Boundaries
he boundary impinges strongly on the look of the garden. In
a rural situation, take your lead from the vernacular. Local
lumber yards and agricultural shows can yield ideas for boundary
enclosures and gates, or, in some areas, it may be that windbreaks
and ditches are more appropriate. Real boundary problems occur
as countryside merges into the city. In this situation the boundary
may need to be an architectural solution, such as “arms” reaching
out from the house to anchor it into the site in the form of
walling. Depending on the size of the plot, you may be able to
modify the boundary line if you find it unsympathetic. Planting
can be used to do this, or a line between an area of rough grass
and smooth. Introducing internal boundaries, perhaps in the form
of hedges or groups of shrubs, can help break up your garden. In a
small site, you might emphasize a diagonal line, rather than a
straight line at right angles to the house, in order to give the area
breadth. Remember that you do not have to use the same type of
boundary all the way around the site — you can break the pattern.

Cottage-style
fencing, above
This scrapwood fence
is combined with
living material.

Blending with
the desert, right
A garden boundary
made of desert stones
in Arizona skilfully
makes the transition
Traditional dry-stone wall from the natural to
This stone wall in a New England garden designed by Janis Hall is given the vernacular.
an update in the form of cantilevered seating built into the structure.
 39

Elements
of
Design
Western-style structure
Materialsfound locally have been used to create a striking rustic
boundary here, in a dryland setting in Arizona.

Wooden fencing
Sawn logs provide a natural boundary in temperate wetland. The logs
may be woven together or set into concrete below ground level.

A living carpet
A neglected dry stone wall in England's West Country has been mellowed
by the wealth of mosses and ferns growing on its shady side.
V

WEmm

"mWB
iHaKriSSfe
sMy-^tyi, - •

mmm
v-f JrfC.:*
 41

Elements
Changing Levels
radations of level within a garden need not be monumental —
indeed, it is arguable that within a natural garden the look
should be subtle. However, there are situations that call for
structure in the form of steps and retaining walls, and these need

of
to be in harmony with their surroundings. In some regions of the
world, terracing that hugs the contours of the land is part of the
agricultural pattern of the area, and this can be echoed in the

garden. The rice fields of the East and the olive groves of
Mediterranean regions are notable examples. Contoured shaping
Design
Steps in scale with the surroundings
In this California garden by Isabelle Greene,
railroad ties create sympathetic steps.

can create a wonderful flow to the garden. The prime exponent of

contouring, raising the technique to an art form, is the American
landscape architect Arthur Edwin Bye. He and his partner Janis
Hall have created gardens that appear to have been formed by the
elemental forces of nature. On a less ambitious scale, you could
have fun with the soil from the excavation of a swimming pool;
even if you dig down only a little, you can create mounds on
either side of a sunken area. In general, the forms you make are
likely to be fairly gentle to simulate natural contours, but if you
Changing levels with decking
have an outlook onto craggy peaks and steep hills, you might use Decking and stairs wind their way down this
stronger land forms to create a more integrated effect. subtropical garden in New Zealand.

Contouring the
landscape, right
In this Connecticut
garden, landscape
architect Janis Hall
has created rippling
hillocks, echoing the
movement of water.
The changing light
during the course of
the day continually
alters the effect.

A terraced
feature, left
The traditional
walled terraces of an
olive grove have
become part of the
design of this stepped
garden in Provence in
the south of France.
A New Approach

Alternative Surfaces
smooth expanse of lawn is often considered essential to a
garden, yet our love affair with grass is not practical; we feed
and water, spike and rake only to crewcut the resulting healthy
growth. Global warming and drought, sympathetic substitutes,
and just plain shortage of time have made alternatives to the lawn
attractive — particularly where space is limited. A graveled and
planted surface can look very effective, while an area of paving
can contain other materials to break it up and add interest. For
example, you could use weathered concrete slabs, which resemble
natural stone, and work a brick pattern through them. If you want
some grass that will require less work than a manicured lawn, lay
your slabs some distance apart and grow grass between them —
you can still mow over the surface. If hard surfaces are not to your
taste, consider a heather, sedge, thyme, or chamomile lawn, moss,
or even plain brushed earth or sand. These treatments are, of
course, not applicable everywhere, and much will depend upon
climate and usage. An area of grass lawn can still be desirable, but
the scale can be reduced where other treatments are an option.

Woodland groundcover Softening hard surfaces

In this Massachusetts garden there is a natural Phlox x procumbens. Dense carpets of Random paving has rivulets of Mazus reptans
groundcover of the plants that thrive in light narrow, dark green leaves are smothered in ‘Albus’ planted between the joints. Grasses or
deciduous woodland, with a preponderance of spring with sprays of rich lilac-pink fowers. thymes might provide alternative plantings.
 43

Elements
of
Design
Forest floor, above
A tapestry of cushion
moss covers a woodland
floor in Britain, with
fairly dense shade
above. Beyond, native
sedges catch the light.

Rock garden, right

Pebbles and boulders
emphasize the gritty
overall surface of this
Arizona garden, while
also acting as an
effective mulch.
44 A New Approach

Water
ost natural gardeners recognize the
importance of water in the garden to
provide a wide range of wildlife and plant
habitats. A wild look may be the aim, but it must
be kept under control, since wet conditions can
foster rampant growth. I think that the first
criterion should be scale. Have as much water as
possible — the larger the area, the easier a pond
is to manage — but make sure it looks natural,
too, and in proportion to the site. We all know
that water runs downhill, so site water at the
lowest point of your layout. You can fudge the
issue with ground shaping, but make sure that
your solution is convincing. Small pools are
tricky and can become overgrown in a single
season. Their small scale is often compounded
by a tendency to include little features around
them. Resist this temptation at all costs.

Desert oasis, above

Still water in the
desert is rare; here,
the skilful
combination of rock
and native plants has
made a convincing
association.

Pool in a city
garden, right
A rock edging and
generous subtropical
Water splash planting make this
Landscape architect Patrick Watson has pool in a city garden
continued water across the driveway to in New Zealand
provide a decorative water splash in appear part of a
this South African city garden. natural landscape.
 45

Elements
of
Design
Still waters
This natural pool in southwest England
displays the layers of vegetation that provide a
range of different habitats for wildlife.

Moving water
In a mountainous area such as this one in
Ireland, rocks and moving water can provide the
example to follow in a garden setting.

Artificial wetland
One of the earliest examples if created
wetland, intended as both a decorative and
an educational feature, isfound at the 1 hijsse
Park in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
46 A New Approach

Furniture
arden furniture design has moved on considerably from the
days when the demand was for formal pieces that referred
back to an earlier, halcyon period of grand living. Many new
designers are crossing the divide between practical items for the
garden and something more naturalistic and sculptural. Their
pieces are distinguished by their highly individualistic style, often
combining found materials with a thoroughly modern approach.
The value of such work, I believe, goes beyond it being both
idiosyncratically beautiful and useful — by example, it encourages
Maritime links, above
us to explore our own creative resources and to find our own
A container madejrom iron chain makes an
way of connecting with the environment in which we live. ideal plant holder Jor a seaside garden.
 47

Elements
of
Rustic design, above

Design
This simple wooden seat provides a perfect place
to rest a while on a woodland wander.

Multipurpose seating, right

A stone slab that doubles as both seat and table
combines usefulness with a natural look.

Sitting four square, left Spiraling bench, above

Made of found wood from the farmyard, this A carved wooden picnic bench by Alison
really chunky bench seat has the simplicity of Crowther takes natural furniture into a new
Adirondack furniture. dimension with its sculptural, organic qualities.
48 A New Approach

Land Art
hile we increasingly exploit the Earth’s mineral resources,
we no longer use its potential visual wealth to the fullest.
The march of urbanization and technological sophistication seems
to have cost us our sense of being rooted in the land. In the past,
and still in many so-called primitive societies, people have drawn
inspiration from nature to create objects that were both of and for
the land, often with a mystical significance; think of stone circles,
Flint sculpture, above
figures cut into chalk hillsides, Aboriginal sand paintings, Native
This piece by Ivan Hicks is made of found flints
American carvings. Some were linked to festivals or folklore, and is set against the background of a flint wall.

especially in relation to the natural cycles of the seasons. Others

were a celebration of people’s relationship with the land.
We could make greater use of our creative resources and re¬
establish that connection to our environment. There could be a
return to that deeper understanding. Many artists are now
working in natural materials, using found objects, and exploring
the rich palette of textures and forms suggested by the natural
world and their own local surroundings. You might even decide to
create your own piece of land art, inspired by your site and locale.

Willow sculpture, above

Willow (Salix spp.) grows in damp places, and
here it has been shaped by Sophie Ryder to
create a herd of deer entering a natural pool in
the Forest of Dean in England.
Crafted from Oak, right
These seatlike oak mushrooms, created by Alison
Crowther, have a primeval attraction when sited
with ferns; they seem part if the forest.
 49

Bridge, center

Elements
Paul Cooper’s “Two
Circles in a Stone
Bridge” is built in an
abandoned quarry.
The sculpture has a
western exposure to
catch the setting sun.

of
Stone vase, left
Joe Smith creates
garden urns, building

Design
up their curvy shapes
with slivers of local
limestone.
50 A New Approach

Natural Planting
nee you have decided what you want to achieve in your
garden, and built the bones of it, you can think about the
planting. This is the part most people long to plunge into, often at
the expense of the initial planning — but I believe that the more
natural the approach, the stronger the basic design needs to be.
The more established your starting point — mature trees, aged
structures — the more natural the result will be. When adapting an
existing garden, you need to work with an understanding of what
would emerge if you allowed natural layers of vegetation to take
over from annual and perennial weeds. It is this organic evolution
of a habitat that you seek to develop, while keeping in tune with
the site so that your garden will not ultimately require detailed
maintenance. Take heart from the fact that the worse your site, in
terms of old horticultural practice — waterlogged, stony, shaded
by trees — the better it probably is in terms of the natural
approach. Don’t rush to eradicate all weeds, as by doing so you
will destroy established plant and wildlife associations. While some
native plants really are too invasive for a small space, others may
be incorporated into a more general planting done the natural way.

A natural combination, above Wetland plant association, right

Grasses and sedges will Jit harmoniously with The garden oj Dutch artist Ton ter Linden
a general planting plan. includes this attractive waterside planting.
52 A New Approach

Planting Associations Field Study Sample

To understand drift and flow, observe it
he planting in your garden should depend not just on which in nature, Sketch a plan view of a natural
plant grouping. Identify the habitat to
plants you select but also on how they grow. Observe planting
learn about plant associations in relation
associations in different habitats — woodland, wetland, grassland, to growing conditions. Capture plant
groups with a camera and use them as a
and so on — and then adapt them to your own garden. This
reference when planning your planting.
approach moves away from the conventional herbaceous-border
style of planting in clumps of three, five, and seven; instead, we
drift plants in a less defined and rigid medium than the border.
Few plants naturally stay in neat little clumps — after all, they
reproduce by spreading themselves in all sorts of ways. So the
natural garden is looser and more sprawling than the conventional
one — like the drift and flow effect of nature — and this is its
charm. You do not have to be too purist and stick entirely with
indigenous species; you can adjust and adapt. But keep in mind
what you know of planting design. You need one or two “specials”,
or dominant plants, and a strong, preferably evergreen, skeleton,
with decorative shrubs and perennials. Drift annuals and bulbs as
infill material through later-blooming perennials. The idea is to
temper the natural way with a practical approach, and the result
will look wonderfully different from more conventional groupings.
Plan view sketch of area
How Plant Grouping Has Changed

Gertrude Jekyll Modernist approach

Gertrude Jekyll was one Jekyll’s interest inform
oj the first gardeners to and shape was taken
move away from the up by designers of the
formal bedding designs Modernist school and
of the 19th century. later. They planted in
Irfluenced by natural stronger blocks of plant
associations and cottage material with a greater
style, she introduced emphasis on plant
freer groupings with an forms than on flower
emphasis on shape and color, often using exotic
texture (below). plants (below).
 53

Planting a

Elements
wetland habitat
In my own garden,
I am attempting a
wetland association
of plants. Where the
soil is drier, decorative
viburnums grow
with the rampant
Heracleum

of
sphondylium {cow
parsnip, or hogweed)
and Ligularia spp.

Design
New romantics Natural style
Looser perennial The irfluence of
groupings began to natural habitat
replace architectural- associations in garden
style massings. This was planting is now clear.
a softer, romantic look, Drifted material,
less based on exotic largely of noninvasive
species. The line between natives, is more random
cultivated bed and and meadow-like, but
lawn was often blurred repetition is important
with the use of hard if the ffect is not to
materials (below). look staccato (below).
54 A New Approach

Conditioning
the Ground
any native plants prefer an impoverished
soil, and the closer to their natural habitat
they are in the garden, the better. So a poor soil
is often more conducive to natural gardening
than one that has been artificially enriched; a
new site may provide an excellent base. However,
bare soil loses water rapidly and encourages
colonizing weeds. Covering the surface with a
mulch reduces evaporation from the surface,
thus maximizing the moisture-holding content of
your soil. It also prevents unwanted weeds from
gaining a foothold and helps to regulate soil
temperature. In nature, vegetation acts as a mulch
by clothing the earth; as it dies back, it forms a
nutrient-rich layer upon the surface. Eventually,
this mulch decomposes into the topsoil and
conditions it. The natural gardener mimics this
natural process by adding a mulch. The type of
mulch you use will vary according to your area
and conditions. Composted household waste is
ideal, as is any locally available organic matter
such as seaweed, bark chips, sawdust, cocoa
shells, spent mushroom compost, or manure.

Heather and gorse moorland

Groundcover acts as a living blanket over the earth; as plants die, they
decompose into a mulch that helps to improve the poor, acidic soil.
 55

Elements
of
Design
Natural mulch, above
Worms and micro-organisms take down dead
matter on the earth’s surface and break this up,
conditioning the soil.

Shady forest floor left

Fallen leaves form a natural mulch under a dense
woodland canopy, where little else can grow.

Garden Mulches
On exposed ground, mulching
the soil reduces moisture loss,
helps suppress weeds (which
also use up water), conditions
the soil, and protects it from
erosion by wind and rain.

Animal manure
Horse and chicken
manure make good
mulch and are
nutrient-rich.

Grass clippings
These should be
about 6m (15cm)
deep; apply after
drying slightly.

Cocoa shell
The shells of cocoa
beans last well,
and add nutrients
to the soil.

Bark chips
Bark is an
expensive mulch,
but will last for at
least three years.
kSbL i^SK^
 Part Two: 57

Natural
Gardening
This section contains specific regional
case histories, showing how natural
gardeners in various parts of the
world have formed partnerships with
their particular locations. Here are
living examples of what I believe is
the way ahead — to work in harmony
with nature in our gardens, not
against it. To this end, I have also
included many practical techniques
and advice on natural gardening.

mm Coastal

T EMPERATE

WOODLAN D

Wetland
———B—B—BS——————IEMBBBIBWWIi Ito WHI M i I'W l=BfaSflMa3^i

Grassland

Dryland

M editerranean

Tropical

City

" '■*;. WA-v: L

58 Natural Gardening

Coastal
Gardens
S A NEW GARDENER by the ocean, you might
think that coastal habitats fall into two
obvious categories: a sandy beach with
dunes behind it, or, at the other extreme,
rocks and pebbles. In fact, there are dozens of
variations between these broad types, from flat
estuaries and salt marshes to clifftop locations
rich in maritime grasses and other flora.
Differing climates — whether Mediterranean,
tropical, or temperate — introduce additional
permutations. Even so, the coastal garden has
well-defined parameters within which the
gardener must work. Exposure to sea spray and
strong, salt-laden winds are the greatest hazards;
the compensations are milder temperatures and a
unique range of plants. Ocean views are another
bonus, and it is often possible to integrate the
maritime panorama into the garden layout.

Coastal groundcover
Swaths of Malephora crocea play an important role in stabilizing this
California beach (above). This carpeting effect can be copied in a garden
context (right), here using Limonium and Pelargonium species.
Coastal Gardens
60 Natural Gardening

The Seaside Gardener

any gardeners find a coastal location daunting, particularly
when trying to maintain a traditional garden filled with
exotic and tender plants, most of them unsuited to the special
conditions. There is another way: allow the salty winds to govern
plant choice and layout, and choose plants that have adapted to
this demanding environment. Observe those native subjects that
grow at sea level, along cliff paths or in rocky crevices, and
consider how you might interpret these in a garden context. Salt-
tolerant trees and shrubs can be grown as protective screening at
the garden perimeter, but where the outlook is good, consider a
partial shelter belt to make the most of the view. And to link the
garden with the shore beyond, use materials that characterize the
coastline, such as rocks, pebbles or shale, sand, and shells.

Open beach, left

A bleak, windswept pebble beach in
Kent, England, is the location for
a nuclear power station; it is also
where the latefilmmaker Derek
Jarman chose to live and where
he created his celebrated garden.

Found objects, below

Jarman used a range of native
seaside species to create a garden
that expressed a very personal sense
of place. Flotsam found along the
shore was turned into land art to
complement the planting.
 61

Coastal
Gardens
Shelter from the wind, above
Along a beach in New South Wales, Australia,
clusters of pine trees filter the force of the wind.

Coastal bush planting, left

This house nestles in native Australian bush
vegetation of eucalyptus and Acacia baileyana.

General Conditions

A stretch of Cape shoreline, South Africa

Climate
Temperatures: In coastal regions, conditions
are milder than they are inland, with both
hot and cold extremes of temperature
moderated by the mass of the sea.
MM*.

Wind: Exposure to drying and salt-laden

winds some distance from the shore is a
major factor affecting garden layout,
perimeter screening, and plant choice.

Soil
The soil pH varies, depending on the
area and underlying bedrock - on chalky
cliffs the overlying soil will be alkaline,
while on craggy granite coastlines it will
tend to be acid, Soil may be sandy, rocky,
or pebbly, but is typically low in organic
matter; and high in salt.

T ERRAIN
Coastal habitats vary widely, with the
terrain ranging from steep rocky slopes
and chalky clifftops to mud flats, estuaries,
and sandy beaches, which may include
dunes or be edged with native trees.
62 Natural Gardening

Open to the Elements

Set AGAINST THE backdrop of Table Mountain, South Africa,
this house and its stunning garden sit high above a rocky beach.
Designed by landscape architect Patrick Watson, the garden
demonstrates a brilliant molding with its setting. The most
striking feature is the pool area with its arrangement of local
granite boulders — when viewed from the house it flows
seamlessly into the ocean beyond. At the front of the house,
rocky banks on either side of the entrance steps receive a soft
spray to re-create the misty habitat of rare Disa orchids that
grow in the mountain gorges behind. Mixed with ferns and
mosses, these delicate natives are now starting to carpet their
new home, truly blending this garden into its coastal site.
View across the pool ©
Looking away from the sea, the
view includes the steep hillside
and strong rock forms of the
National Park beyond.

Water feature ©
The steps arefanked by water-
chute balustrades lined with stones
and ending in molded basins. Next
Oliv
to these, rocky banks are filled with
trees
orchids,ferns, and mosses.

Olive
trees

Lawn House Gate

30 ft

Cross-section of house and garden

The complex is located on a sloping site
that sweeps down toward the sea.
 63

Coastal
Bold lines ®
The craggy forms of
Cape granite boulders
at the edge of the
deck echo the beach
below and visually
link the blue, blue sea
with the swimming
pool at house level.

Gardens
Between the pool deck
and the house is a
lawn of Cynodon
transvaalensis on
which to sunbathe.

Fusion with nature, left ©

Garden Profile
The pool, cut into the line of the
headland, seems to f oat above the
Origins_
Indian Ocean.
Location: The garden lies I 15ft (35m) above
a rocky beach near Cape Town, South Africa,
Area: Approximately I acres (0.5 hectare).
History: Previously, the garden was filled
with exotic plants; it was redesigned in 1993.
A seat in the shade, below ©
Native olive trees shade a garden
seat in a small, sheltered side
courtyard. The paving is terra¬
cotta slabs with grassy joints.

Regal Pelargonium thrives on the coast.

Site Characteristics_
Soil type: The soil is largely day, with a thin,
gritty upper layerThe bedrock is granite.
Climate: Coastal Mediterranean in character
Pulverizing winds are a major factor
Orientation: The garden faces west.

Selected Plant List

Adiantum spp., Albuca nelsonii, Amaryllis
belladonna, Aristea major, Asplenium lobatum,
Babiana spp., Blechnum spp., Cyclopia
sessiliflora, Cyrtanthus spp., Dierama pendulum,
Disa uniflora, Eucomis autumnalis, Ficus pumila,
Gladiolus alatus, Hermannia saccifera, Hypoxis
setosa, Moraea aristata, Nerine sarniensis,
Olea africana, Oxalis spp., Phygelius aequalis,
Rhus crenata, Schizostylis coccinea.
64 Natural Gardening

A Coastal Design Cultural Influences

The forces of wind and sea in a

Let YOUR IMAGINATION roam freely over the elements of the coastal setting weather artificial
objects very quickly and mellow
natural landscape you live in. At the center of these pages is an
them. To counteract this, the idiom
artist’s impression of a garden design I have drawn up inspired by
is to use bright color for painted
a coastal location. (A thematic scheme is repeated in each chapter
surfaces. Decking, boardwalks, and
throughout this section.) This garden, below a summer beach pontoons provide inspiration for a
home, could be almost anywhere. It is approached down sand- range of garden structures, as do
blown wooden steps that open out to provide a picnic deck. The coastal protection devices such as

garden is contained by low gabion walls (see p.67) that provide beach groins and gabions.

shelter on blustery days. Similar structures are used to retain high Beach
groins,
banks on the sides of highways, but these are a smaller, domestic
low tide
version. The gabions are galvanized metal frames, filled with local
stones and built up to form a wall, which soon becomes a screen
against the wind. Within the garden space, there are big masses of
groundcover planting — mainly succulents — that can withstand
both the blistering wind and the drought. The
swaths of colorful groundcover drift into the
seaside plantings behind the sheltering gabion.

A John Brookes Plan

This simple layout attempts to re-create one of
those hot, still places you sometimes find among
sand dunes, with mesembryanthemums providing a
bright carpet of flowers within the garden.

Sand and
pebbles

Gabion
Decking wall
steps
 65

Coastal
Natural Inspirations
This garden conjures up a coastal
location of warm pockets of shelter
within sand dunes, of gritty sand
underfoot, and the reedy smell of
marram grass baked in summer heat
Observe the range of habitats and

Gardens
plant associations found in such a
setting, and how they change the
farther back you go inland.

come in
various shapes
and colors

Some hardy plants will

arow on rocks

Natural
patterns, such
as sand “waves"
on a beach, may
be a source of
design ideas
66 Natural Gardening

Creating a Coastal Ambience

A COASTAL GARDEN is one of the most difficult to
design and establish. The scale of the sea itself
will always dominate, and then there is the wind,
which is salt-laden at that. A sheltering screen is
vital; it helps to stabilize an often sandy habitat
and reduces erosion and moisture loss. Coarse
gravel is more stable than sand but contains few
nutrients, so should be conditioned with the
incorporation of organic matter. To improve the
conditions, screens may be planted or constructed
of brushwood, or sturdier structures such as
gabions or driftwood groins may be built. The
shelter they provide enables an association of
salt-tolerant plants to be established.

Natural Inspiration
In southern California, landscape
architect Isabelle Greene took the line
and pattern of the waves washing upon
the shore and turned them into a
design for a broad wooden deck that
overlooks the ocean view, with curving
steps leading down to the beach. Note
that the steps are not all the same
width, repeating the irregularity of the
receding surf, and are ideal as landings Ocean influence Curved decking terrace
The linear pattern of the gentle waves The wide, shallow steps help to link the house
on which to sit or sunbathe. They
lapping onto the seashore was the designer’s and garden with their natural surroundings as
successfully combine a strong graphic inspiration when creating a garden in this well as forming a usful extension to the
quality with naturalistic forms. coastal site in southern California. terrace by offering extra seating space.

Mild steel wire to

Boardwalks Making a
strengthen structure
Boardwalk A handrail can
In seaside gardens, boardwalks made of pressure- be added
where needed
treated wood can be used to provide a secure footing Strained wires
and protect the ground from disturbance. They can also are stapled to
boards to
be used to cross sand dunes. Lighter, portable walkways, stabilize them

known as duckboards, are useful for temporary access.

In most areas, any construction on dunes must follow
local or federal conservation regulations.

Boardwalk path
This boardwalk path
forms an approach to
Slats rest on
the house and is
strong runners
entirely in keeping
with its surroundings. Gaps between slats
Grasses planted to are I in (25mm)
Chicken wire
stabilize the sand will
stapled to slats
soon knit together to gives better grip the sand by 30-35in
establish an exciting (750-900mm)
visual contrast of
Construction of a boardwalk
artificial and
A permanent raised boardwalk, accessed by a wooden ramp or steps,
natural forms.
protects an unstable or drifting surface such as sand dunes. For surer
footing, you can add a handrail, and lay chicken wire over the slats.
 67

Coastal
Making Gabions A gabion wall
Place the gabions so
In pebble or gravel areas, a tough
that they take the
structural windbreak, such as a wall brunt oj the wind.
made from wire-mesh gabions, looks You may want to work
organic matter into
appropriate. Rigid wire panels are
the gaps between the
used for box-type gabions and chain- stones to encourage

Gardens
link fencing for tubular ones. The plants to establish

spaces between the stones trap sand themselves in the wall

more quickly.
or gravel, and plant life starts to
establish a living wall.

j The flat gabion frame

] Lay the preformed wirejrame
flat in the area where you want
to use the gabion, as they are
heavy to move once filled.
2 Putting it together
Fold the wireframe into a box,
securing it firmly with galvanized
metal rings. For extra strength,
cross brace it as you fill it.
3 Filling and closing up
Place the frame in position,
then fill it with large stones so
that they are fairly tightly packed
together. Secure the lid with wire.
4; Starting a small wall
Use the gabions like giant
bricks to form a retaining wall or
wind shelter in which plants can
become established over time.

Brushwood Screens
If you are creating a tall shelter from the wind, it should
not be a solid barrier but a filtering screen that lets the
wind flow over and through it while reducing its force.
One way to create a fence is to use dense bundles of
brushwood (see below). A stronger version can be made by
securing the bundles between parallel strained wires or
crossbars — even in an established fence.

Making a brushwood screen A brushwood screen made with supports

Lash together pieces of brushwood into bundles. Plunge each bundle into a In this coastal site, brushwood has been woven between the strained wires
hole, and then baclfill with a mortar mix. The mortar will set hard and and sturdy wooden verticals of an established fence to create a screen that
withstand a battering from wind. filters the wind and harmonizes with the landscape.
68 Natural Gardening

Temperate
Gardens
ANY PARTS OF Europe and the eastern
United States enjoy a temperate
climate, with comparatively mild
temperatures and no harsh extremes. Most of
the broadleaved woodland that once covered
these lands has been cleared and cultivated to
create arable land, hay meadows, rolling hills,
and lush pastures for grazing. Some parts are
still bounded by woodland edges, a haven for
wildlife, but many such habitats have been
destroyed by intensive farming methods. The
gardener can do much to stem the tide of this
rural decline by planting native species — many
of which are the original forms of hybridized
garden plants in any case — in order to encourage
wildlife. The size of the garden isn’t important:
from acorns come oak trees, and even small
efforts can produce spectacular results.

A harmonious grouping
This stunning garden in the Netherlands (right) created by Ton ter
Linden picks up on the lush pastures of the surrounding habitat (above),
skillfully blending suitable garden plants with native wetland species.
mm
mm ttMfet&t
Wwmmi

rfjfelfi
£££ O* ;;;
mmEmW^k

ass > s%
 71

The Rural Gardener

T EMPERATE
ncreasingly, I believe that there are two positive ways in which
the temperate garden can develop: either as a productive
cottage garden, or as an entirely decorative but wilder type of
garden. Pristine lawns and highly cultivated borders are replaced
by looser, airier plantings, selected to suit a particular habitat.

GARDENS
Following rural traditions, there may also be scented shrub roses,
fruit trees, and a variety of herbs, depending on the area. Annuals
and biennials are left to self-seed and create a managed yet
glorious disarray. Indigenous plants, adapted to the local
conditions, are allowed to thrive — although monitored — bringing
insect life into the garden, and in turn attracting other wildlife.
Instead of maintaining the garden, you will be managing it, which
I believe will mark a true change of direction.

Link with the landscape, left Downs and fields, above Soft boundary, above Temperate meadow, top
A wilder type of garden in Sussex, High pasture has long been grazed Cultivated plants give way to clover Buttercups (Ranunculus sp.)
England, which blends seamlessly by sheep, with the fatter areas lawn, then Osteospermum sp. combine with Camassia sp. and
with its pastoral setting. used for arable farming. and Geranium sylvaticum. red clover in a cultivated meadow.

General Conditions

Climate
Temperate zones are characterized
by mild temperatures, without
harsh extremes, and sufficient
rainfall, and so provide benign
growing conditions. However;
where the landmass is vast, an
inland "continental” climate
develops, with much hotter
summers and far colder winters.
Soil
Soil type varies according to
region and terrain. On chalky
downland, for example, the sot is
typically thin and alkaline, whereas
in a peat area it will be acid. For
growing a wide range of plants,
the ideal soil is a good loam, with
the right balance of sand and day
and a high humus content
l T ERRAIN_
Wilflowers on British pasture
These regions include most types
of terrain, such as woodlands,
grasslands, and wetlands, all
providing very different plant
habitats. However most of these
areas have been cleared or
drained to make way for
agriculture and habitation and
are therefore open lands, as here.
72 Natural Gardening

The Laws of Nature

“My GARDEN SEIOULD be like nature, without apparent logic,” says Butterfly plants, right
The butterfly garden
Henk Gerritsen about Priona, his garden in Holland. “You cannot
is situated in a sunny,
see it and you certainly cannot understand it, but you can just fertile spot. Species
such as Dianthus
sense the logic.” At first, only wild species were planted — not
and Scabiosa attract
necessarily Dutch natives — where Henk thought each would grow some 30 different

best, to create a series of distinct gardens. This wildflower-only kinds of butterfly, but
the plant community
policy was gradually abandoned in favor of the more relaxed is fragile and needs
approach taken by the garden’s cofounder, the late Anton some guiding.

Schlepers, who liked to see garden favorites, too. Henk feels that
the garden has gained in interest as a result. He adds, “There are
hardly any principles left. Principles in a garden are blown away
in a storm, freeze in an unusually cold winter, or crumble in a
hot, dry summer. The only principle is the total absence of
chemicals. The wildlife that comes to eat my garden is welcomed.
Consequently, I have never seen plagues in my garden.”

Structure in the Vegetable Garden

The large vegetable garden,
located close to the main house at
Priona, is filled with vegetables,
such as leeks, carrots, and
cabbages, grown exclusively for
The result is a colorful profusion
of vegetation that, by the end of
June, is dominated by flowering
parsnip (see right). In contrast to m m
the exuberant planting, the paths
m Wm
?/•' rfcH

their flowers. These vegetables are
allowed to sow themselves
spontaneously and are combined
with other self-sown annuals and
biennials such as poppies,
verbascum, and Cleome species.
in the vegetable garden are laid
out in a regular, geometric
fashion. These give the garden
much-needed coherence and
prevent it from looking like a
total wilderness.

Linking forms
Seen from this angle, the
line of the path in the
vegetable garden rfllects the
roof of the house beyond.
 73

The "pot-square,” left

T EMPERATE
Frost-tender perennials are kept
in pots. The softer parts of the
Onopordum sp. on the lft will
be completely eaten by caterpillars
later in the year, leaving a skeleton
that will stand all winter.

GARDENS
Vegetable garden, below
During early summer, the
vegetable garden is filled with
the unusual and attractive heads
ffowering parsnip.
Natural Gardening

Plan Analysis
Priona IS MADE up of a series of different gardens (see pp.72—73), each one
established to suit a specific environment, from extremely shaded areas with poor,
acid soil to sunny plots and fertile ground, with everything in between. The gardens
range through naturalized woodland, a flower garden for butterflies, and a wetland
area, to a large vegetable patch, a meadow garden, and a formal garden filled with
yew and boxwood clipped into informal shapes. Some of the gardens are stable and
require little maintenance. Others — in particular the butterfly garden, tire vegetable
garden, and an area known as the garden “behind the hedge” — need constant guidance.
Garden haven for
butterflies, left ©
A pink Geranium sp.
adds ajlash of color
to a triangular bed.

A romantic water
garden, below ©
According to Henk, the
pond looks like “the
one Ophelia drowned
in, as depicted in the
painting by Millais.”

Garden Profile

Origins
Location: Schuinesloot, the Netherlands.
Area: 5 acres (2 hectares).
History: Started in 1983 with Henk's late
friend Anton Schlepers, on farmland that had
belonged to Anton’s family since 1860.
Site Characteristics
Soil type: The land is on a sandy glacial
deposit, in what was once the largest bog in
Europe, the Bourtanger Moor - now drained.
The soil is poor but enriched near the house
with nearly 150 years of domestic waste.
BMPfWPt Climate: Conditions are temperate, but with
continental features,The average annual
rainfall is 30-32in (750-800mm).
Orientation: Mainly south-facing (i.e„ sunny),
but there are also shaded areas.
Selected Plant List
Achillea spp, Cirsium heterophyllum, Clematis
spp., Dianthus carthusianorum, Geranium
nodosum, G. psilostemon, Knautia macedonica,
J( Onopordum spp., Origanum vulgare, Scabiosa
lucida, Sedum telephium, Silene vulgaris,
A bright corner of yellow violas and honeysuckle Verbascum olympicum, Verbena bonariensis.
 75

T EMPERATE
Water.garden

Pond

Pond '{7
i* t e>.1
rd e n

GARDENS
Behind the hedge
*’jRock garden

House

jgetable
rden —

Herb garden

Vegetable garden ®
Verbascum olympicum, parsnip, strawberries,
poppies, and purple Atriplex spp. (orache) create
an attractive mix in front of the chicken house.

Meadow garden ©
Plants such as rosebay willowherb
(Epilobium spp.), achillea, and Cirsium
heterophyllum thrive in the meadow garden.
76 Natural Gardening

A Windswept View
Establishing a garden in an exposed area is not without its
problems, especially if, like the owners of this chalk downland
garden in southern England, you wish to link the house to the
sweeping landscape beyond and at the same time provide a degree
of shelter. Fortunately, the garden came with a clump of mature
beeches — a strong link with the past, for this area was once rich
pasture for sheep, and such clusters provided shelter for lambing.
Further planting was added to link the trees with the adjoining
gravel garden, which is partially filled with the same flowers that Cottage-style entrance
The front garden includes a Rosa ‘Penelope’
once brightened the finely cropped sward. It is left open so that
with lavender in the foreground; behind the
the land appears to roll away from the house to the horizon. roses is a Paeonia lutea, with angelica.

Before planting, left The gravel garden established, above

The gravel garden was positioned to take The artist in the fomily has thrown domiland
advantage of a gap in the existing hedgerow flower seeds about at random and planted many
with expansive views beyond. Lawn was not bulbs, combining the best of wild and cultivated,
considered here. to provide subjects for her to paint.
 77

T EMPERATE
Garden Profile

Origins_ Site Characteristics

Location: Rolling chalk downland in the Soil type: Light and chalky; the naturally high
south of England. pH has been modified to near neutral by
History: Work on the garden started in previous cultivation and added organic
1984; previously, the land was roughly matter, which has improved the condition
gardened. In addition to the main gravel and water-holding capacity of the soil. The
garden, there is a small wild pool on one gravel in the main garden also acts as a
side surrounded by rushes and native yellow useful water-retaining mulch.

flag iris (Iris pseudacorus).There are also
plantings on the north side of the house,
which are mainly in shade.
Area: The garden covers approximately
A acre (0.2 hectare).
GARDENS
Climate: A mild temperate climate, but fairly
exposed, with strong winds.
Orientation: The garden encircles the
house, so there is a range of exposures.
Blue love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena) The site is open and mainly in full sun.

The Gravel. Garden

The space in front of the house was
originally laid out with a fairly
conventional garden in mind,
although it included an open gravel
area bordered by perennials and
lime-loving shrubs rather than a
more traditional lawn. Self-seeding
perennials such as species of
m

r
t
Alchemilla and Sisyrinchium were
planted direct through the gravel 1
into the soil below to soften its stark j
1
look early on. Gradually, over a ten-
l
year period, the style of the garden
\
has loosened up enormously, with a
variety of foliage and flowers
balancing the harshness of the gravel.
ir
/
"AG.

Key to the Planting Plan

© Rosa The Fairy'
© Rosa 'Penelope'
© Verbascum olympicum x 20
© Festuca glauca x S
© Allium aflatunense x 25
© Angelica spp. x 5
® Echinops ritro x 5
Garden layout © Paeonia lutea x 2
The gravel garden is ideally located to make ® Digitalis spp. x 30
the most of the south-facing exposure and an ® Aquilegia spp. x 25
uninterrupted view of downland pastures. © Geranium spp. x 22
® Potentilla fruticosa x 4
® Aquilegia spp. x 30
® Primula spp. x 12
© Thymus caespititius x 25
© Phlox procumbens x 5
© Iris sibirica x 5
® Thymus vulgaris x 6
® Nigella spp. x 34
@ Allium cristophii x 25
@ Alchemilla mollis x 20
® Allium aflatunense x 25
© Geranium spp. x 20
® Phlomis fruticosa
® Nectaroscordum siculum
® Sisyrinchium striatum x 15
© Aquilegia spp. x 25
@ Alchemilla mollis x 12
® Rosa 'Mme. Alfred Carriere'
© Rosa 'William Lobb'
© Rosa 'Nuits de Young'
© Rosa 'Nevada'
© Hedge of Crataegus spp.
78 Natural Gardening

Making a Meadow
Hard as I might try to fight the romantic hayfield approach to
meadow gardening, I cannot, for there is a timeless beauty about a
meadow in full flower. At her home in the English Midlands, Miriam
Rothschild echoes the poet Tennyson’s passion for a “careless,
ordered garden.” She was dismayed some time ago to realize “that
wildflowers had been drained, bulldozed, weed-killered, and
fertilized out of the fields... we were now in a countryside
reminiscent of a pool table, and must do something about it.” You
could follow her example and grow tall grasses laced with dwarf
narcissus, species tulips, alliums, and irises. Add roses, both
cultivated and wild, and near the house grow scented shrubs and
climbers (here buddleia and clematis) that attract butterflies.

In full flower Cornfield mixture

Ajoaming sea of cow parsnip (Anthriscus Jrom w'iW garlic to bee orchids, in the lawns Gravel paths are lined with cornjlowers, oxeye
sylvestris) surges up to a row ojcottages on the surrounding the house, as well as introduced daisies, corn marigolds, poppies, andjlax — a
estate. There are now about 120 native species, species such as beargrass and martagon lilies. mix wryly named “Farmer’s Nightmare.”
 79

T EMPERATE
Naturalized bulbs
in grass, left
A mown path sweeps
through long grass
planted with daffodils
and other bulbs such
as alliums. These can
compete with the
vigor of the grass and
are compatible with
the wildflowers, the

GARDENS
seeds of which were
collected from nearby
derelict land.

Colorful wall
climbers, right
The mauve plumes
of a mature wisteria
and the pale blooms
of Clematis montana
create a frame of
flowers and foliage
around a doorway.

Grassy path, left

An irregular,
meandering grass
path cuts through the
garden,forming a
con trasting foil for
the living walls of
cow parsnip, with a
froth of creamy white
flower heads.
Flowering fruit trees
Above the grasses and daffodils,flowering cherries
and plums provide a display of blossoms in
spring and foliage color in autumn.

Garden Profile

Origins_ Orientation: The garden extends to all sides

Location: The Midlands, England.
Area: There are a total of 150 acres (60
hectares) of flowering hay meadows.
History: Started in the mid-1970s on the
original Edwardian garden layout.
Site Characteristics_
Soil type: Neutral day but some areas are limy.
Climate: Temperate. Average annual rainfall is
22in (550mm). Winter temperatures can
drop to 16°F (-9°C); in summer;
temperatures may peak at 86°F (30°C).
Pink corncockles (Agrostemma githago)
of the house with a range of conditions.
Selected Plant List_
Agrostemma githago, Allium spp., Anthriscus
sylvestris, Briza media, Buddleja spp.,
Campanula rotundifolia, Centaurea cyanus,
Clematis spp., Dianthus spp., Iris spp.,
Laburnum spp,, Lilium martagon, Linum
anglicum, Lonicera spp., Narcissus spp., Ophrys
apifera, Papaver spp., Philadelphus spp..
Primula elatior, P. scotica, Rosa 'Etoile de
Hollande1, Syringa spp., Tulipa spp., Viola hina.
80 Natural Gardening

A Temperate Design
I HAVE TAKEN the rolling, wooded landscape of the Weald
of Kent in England as my starting point for this
cottage garden. Elere you will find fields of hops
(for making beer), fruit orchards, and grazing sheep
and cattle — and many of these themes are
reflected in the layout. The front garden, with its
traditional picket fence, contains a muddle of
flowers and herbs on either side of a paved
path. At the rear of the house, the path
widens into a terrace, over which
stands a pergola. Made from the
poles that are used in the fields
for the hops to climb up and
over, it provides a frame for
climbing plants. The fruit
trees growing down one side
of the house and at the rear echo
the commercial crop sited on the lar
hillside. In spring, there are masses of
daffodils in the rough grass beneath the trees.

Cultural Influences
The vernacular of Wealden Kent is very strong in its
building structures, its agricultural field patterns, and
its managed woodland and field boundaries. White painted,
wooden-fronted cottages are a particular feature of the region.

Oast house for drying hops

Hops growing on
wire-strung hop
poles

Wealden cottage with picket fence, Kent

 T EMPERATE
A John Brookes Plan
The garden plan surrounds a traditional
weatherboarded cottage. Half of the garden
is given over to fruit trees to extend the
surrounding orchard field; the garden also
includes a vegetable patch.
Shelter belt Orchard of
, of trees Paved path

GARDENS
climbing plants patch grass

Natural Inspirations
This part of England was one of the last areas
of ancient woodland to be substantially cleared,
although many wooded sites still remain,
breaking up the predominating pattern of
cultivated fields. This is a “cozy” landscape that
has been worked for generations.

Sweeping download
landscape

Sheep grazing in
an orchard
82 Natural Gardening

Making a Gravel Garden

Increasingly, gravel is being appreciated as It reduces evaporation from the soil and, being
an ecologically sound alternative to lawn — no a well-drained medium for planting, it allows
watering or mowing — and an intermediate seeds and seedlings to overwinter without
texture between hard paving and soft plants. rotting off as they might in a heavier medium.

Laying a Gravel Area

When laying gravel, it is important to prepare a level topsoil for use elsewhere in the garden. In a small area,
and well-compacted subbase. It is vital to clear the you can gauge this by eye; in a large plot, use a level
ground of any weeds, then remove a thin, even layer of and straightedge to check that the base is level.

I Digging out the area

Remove a 4in (10cm) layer ofsoil from the
area. Edge the area with bricks in mortar or
treated lumber, or let it merge into a flowerbed.
2 Preparing the base
Level the ground, then fill the excavated
area with roughly processed gravel up to the
original height. Rake it completely fat.
3 Consolidating the base
Using a heavy garden roller or motorized
compactor, compress the base to remove air
pockets and provide a stable base.

4 Adding the gravel

Once the base is compacted to at least
’Ain (2cm) below the edge, add the gravel,
starting at one side and spreading it as you go.
5 Leveling the gravel
Using a rake or stiff broom, work over the
area to create an even surface that is level
with the retaining edge.
6 Ready for planting
Rolling the gravel will reduce movement.
The area is now ready for planting (see box,
above right).

Different Types of Gravel

Most gravels are
chips obtained from a
parent rock. Naturally
occurring gravel,
such as pea gravel and
rockfines (stone dust), Rockfines (stone dust) Granite gravel Limestone chips Coarse-gauge stone
This fine, dredged gravel Black granite chips give a These come in a range of Larger gravel, made from
has been rounded by
gives a surface that can be more formal look than colors depending on the local stone, can be used
the action of water raked into a pattern. Pea dredged gravels but can be original rock. Use chips alone or mixed with
and then dredged. gravel has larger stones. somber in large areas. made from local limestone. similar finer chips.

Planting in Gravel
Gravel provides a well-drained growing
medium that is especially suitable for
drought-tolerant plants. The medium
I Digging the hole
I First scrape the suiface gravel
to one side. Dig a hole slightly
larger than the rootball through
the base into the soil below.
allows plants to self-seed and spread
themselves in natural drifts, blurring
die Line between paths and borders.
Preparing the plant
Add potting soil to the hole.
Gently tease out the plant’s roots
then plant it so that it is almost
level with the surrounding gravel.
O are excellent as they like summer
3 Firming in and watering
Add some of the removed soil
around the rootball and firm in.
Replace gravel around the crown
and then water in.
83
Suitable Plants
T EMPERATE
Grow plants that like free-draining
conditions. If you want them to
spread, choose self-seeders. Herbs
heat and well-drained soil, as do
many of the gray-leaved plants.
GARDENS
Herbs
Foeniculum vulgare
Lavandula spp. (above)
Rosmarinus spp.
Salvia officinalis
Thymus spp.
Gray-leaved plants
Dianthus spp.
Gazania spp.
Helichrysum spp.
Stachys byzantina (above)
Self-seeders
Alchemilla mollis
Eryngium spp.
Euphorbia spp.
Sisyrinchium spp. (above)
Verbascum spp.
Drifts of color; left
Tall mulleins (Verbascum spp.)
thrive in a well-drained gravel
area, along with poppies
(Papaver spp.) and silver¬
leaved Lychnis coronaria.
84 Natural Gardening

Temperate Planting
Intemperate areas, the natural gardener may effect. Below, we show a bank in my own garden,
draw inspiration from the way plants and bulbs which I created using an old rubbish heap as
grow in the wild — often in intermingled drifts the core. There was a natural regeneration of
rather than neat clumps. In the garden, you can Onopordum acanthium, along with Silybum marianum.
use this idea to create naturalistic planting I drifted other semiwild plants through for a
associations, but guide it to create a stronger natural, yet controlled, composition.
Bare bank (far left)
Drift and Flow
Note the frequency of
Following nature’s lead in spontaneous plants that have
regeneration, you will see in the plan naturally sef-seeded.

below how I used other material

either as a contrast, as with the Planting up (left)
Set out the plants in
grasses, or in drifts to create a pleasing
their positions before
How of plants. The association relies planting to check the
on scale, texture, and foliage color. spacing and effect.

A Grassy Bank Plan

Cornus Onopordum Rubus Achillea Euonymus
Viburnum
sanguinea x 8 acanthium x 5 cockburnianus x 2 filipendulina x 4 japonicus x I
plicatum
Taxus Viburnum 8 uxus 'Mariesii' x 2
baccata x I lantana x I sempervirens x I

)ium f p-G;
+

'h eranium
pratense
to 1
(DO A
/ Achillea '
spp. to 1

Aiscanthus
sinensis x I
th
Silybum
-0 - marianum x I
Helleborus
foetidus x 2
Miscanthus
Iris mpordum Euphorbia
Helleborus sinensis x I
foetidus x I acanthium x 3 lathyris x 3
foetidus x I Iris pallida
I m
Silybum Silybum Euphorbia x 8
irex
4ft marianum x 2 marianum x 2 lathyris x 3
Vconica x 6

Natural spacing
Drift and Flow in Gravel
To an extent, gravel
acts as a mulch, but it Flere is one of my drift-and-llow plant associations in
also allows air and another part of the garden at Denmans (left). After initial
space between the
planting, the subjects are allowed to self-seed or spread
plant associations.
on their own — with an occasional edit. In this situation,
The effect is much
more “natural.” plants are established in a gravel surface and are not
necessarily crammed together, as in a herbaceous border,
where the objective is to cover the earth with exotics
before nature does it with her own materials.
 85

Plant Editing
To me, plant editing is probably the most important
part of gardening the natural way. It involves cutting
back, thinning, or removing subjects to sustain an
ongoing visual effect, while leaving enough seedheads
for continuity. This form of management makes sure
plants have enough space, but, most of all, it is about
Temperate
achieving the look I want to create. Shown below are
dying circular heads of Angelica archangelica and the
gray spikes of Onopordum acanthium, with masses of
white-flowered Chrysanthemum parthenium and yellow
Tanacetum vulgare. Poppies, Dipsacusfullonum, and
Oenothera biennis will flower later in the season.

Gardens
Editing for definition
Here, the editing includes
cutting back the head oj a
viburnum among a natural
planting of perennials, for
better dfinition.

After cutting back

This semiwild border has been
edited to thin out its content
and let air into the grouping,
with the possibility of a later
show of seedlings at the front.
If no plants self seed outside
the area, I plant an association
to look self-seeded (inset).

Naturalizing
Narcissus
Tired of seeing tight
little circular bunches
of narcissus growing at
the base of trees, I use
handfuls of colorful
children’s building
bricks to establish a
naturalistic planting
pattern. Narcissus will
proliferate readily if they
are left undisturbed.
86 Natural Gardening
Meadows and Hedgerows
A BROAD EXPANSE of flowering meadow with
waving grasses and wildflowers is now all too
rare a sight in many temperate countries.
Hedgerows, too, have been another casualty of
“progress” in the form of intensive, highly
mechanized farming. But you can re-create these
rich habitats in your own garden. It need not be
Plug Planting a Wildflower Patch
In large or open areas, meadow plants are often sown
from seed — the cheapest and most effective method
for achieving a natural-looking meadow. In small or
awkward patches such as on slopes, in existing turf or
established planting, or between paving, it may be
I Linking the garden with the field beyond
I A tall, informal Miscanthus grass lends importance to the gateway.
It was decided to add primroses (Primula vulgaris) to the paved area.
The best seasonsfor planting are autumn or spring.
4 Planting the plug
Insert the plug into the
prepared hole, fill around it
with soil, and firm in.
a large-scale project; even the smallest garden
can contain a miniature meadow. Since
wildflowers generally have small leaves and
flowers, the secret is to think in drifts initially —
most will self-seed if you allow them to do so,
and then the real excitement begins when the
following year you start to get natural associations.
more practical to use small plug plants, which become
established more quickly. These may be bought in trays
or sown from seed in cell packs with drainage holes in
the base. You may prefer to use a single species, as
below, or create your own mix (see box, opposite).
2 Making a planting hole
Using a commercial drill
3 Removing the plug
Water the plants well in their
tool, make individual holes to tray, then carefully remove each
take each of the plug plants. plug as needed for planting.

Selected Plants for Wildflower Meadows
Meadow Plants (North America)
Selected Species for Medium/Dry Soils
Asclepias tuberosa (butterflyweed)
Aster laevis (smooth aster)
Baptisia australis (blue wild indigo)
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf coreopsis)
Dodecatheon meadia (shooting star)
Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)
Coreopsis lanceolata Monarda fistulosa (bergamot)
Penstemon digitalis (smooth penstemon)
Petalostemum purpureum (purple prairie clover)
Pudbeckia hirta (black-eyed Susan)
Selected Species for Medium/Moist Soils
Allium cernuum (nodding pink onion)
Aster novae-angliae (New England aster)
Cassia marilandica (Maryland senna)
Heliopsis helianthoides (oxeye sunflower)
Allium cernuum Liatris borealis (northern blazing star)
Traditional Hedgerows
A hedgerow provides a rich and diverse habitat for wildlife.
It also filters the wind, sheltering a downwind area
equivalent to 20 times its own height, so reducing soil
erosion and providing protection for plants. Traditional
hay meadows were usually contained by hedgerows
because, after the grass was cut for hay, these fields had
87
T EMPERATE
Meadow Plants (Northern Europe)
Selected Species for Medium/Dry Soils
Achillea millefolium (yarrow)
Campanula rotundifolia (harebell)
Centaurea scabiosa (greater knapweed)
Hypochaeris radicata (cat's ear)
Knautia arvensis (field scabious)
Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)
GARDENS
Malva moschata Lotus corniculatus (bird's foot trefoil)
Malva moschata (musk mallow)
Primula vulgaris (primrose)
Prunella vulgaris (selfheal)
Selected Species for Medium/Moist Soils
Cardamine pratensis (cuckoo flower)
Filipenaula uimaria (meadowsweet)
Geranium pratense (meadow cranesbill)
Primula veris (cowslip)
Primula veris Succisa pratensis (devil's bit scabious)
Established hedge
In this established
laid hedge (left), the
stems have been
partially cut during
the dormant season to
stimulate the growth
oj new shoots. Each of
the principal stems is
cut up to two-thirds
through (inset), at an
angle to aid water
runoff, then laid over
to one side. Later in
the season, the hedge
will be a mass of
green growth.
stock grazing on them. In tire eighteenth century, fields
were ditched and hedged using mainly hawthorn
(Crataegus spp.) and/or blackthorn (Primus spinosa). Over
time, ways of “laying” a hedge (see above) were devised
to fill out the lower areas, which tended to become bare
of branches, and so escape holes were blocked.
88 Natural Gardening

Woodland
Gardens
OST OF NORTHERN Europe and parts
of North America were originally
covered by temperate forests. These
ranged from evergreen woodland, made up of
firs and pines, to deciduous woods of oak,
hickory, elm, beech, and ash. Much of this
original forest was cleared to make way for
farming, and only pockets of virgin woodland
still exist; the remainder is managed. In Europe,
woodland management has a long history, and
includes coppiced areas (see p.99), game
reserves, and other areas set aside for native
plants and wildlife. Walk through your local
woodland and what you see will have as much to
do with human intervention as with nature. The
woodland garden, too, needs management, but
here the gardener seeks not to exploit but to
support and nurture this special habitat.

A cool woodland glade

An open woodland garden (right) by Wolfgang Oehme and James van
Sweden in Washington, DC, echoes naturally occurring glades (above).
89

Woodland Gardens
?;
t*«LV**
90 Natural Gardening

The Shade Gardener

HE DAPPLED shade of a woodland garden is its main attraction,
and there are many plants that have adapted to low light
levels. As well as growing shade-tolerant plants, the natural
gardener can also make good use of clearings to widen the palette
of species. Vegetation in wooded regions has a natural, layered
order starting, in open areas, with a carpet of groundcover plants
and mosses with a layer of perennials and bulbs above. Then come
small trees and shrubs, and finally the tall forest standards, such as
ash, oak, and beech. Dense conifers allow little growth beneath
them, but in mixed or deciduous woods, spring flowers appear
before the canopy is in full leaf. Man-made materials look out of
place in the woodland garden; bark, wood, and stone are more
sympathetic choices for any structural forms.

Woodland setting, left

The garden of landscape designer
Gilles Clement embraces the
natural rolling woodland of the
Creuse region of central France.

Gradual transition, below

The ecological theme of Gilles
Clement’s garden gradually
becomes more cultivated as one
approaches the granite house.
 9

Woodland
General Conditions

AJallen oak provides a natural feature

Climate

Gardens
Seasons: The general climatic conditions
of a region are tempered in woodland.
Trees modify temperature extremes, as
transpiration from the leaves cools the
air temperature in summer; and the
shelter provides insulation, in winter
Wind: Trees provide screening from
damaging winds and their drying effects.
Rainfall: The canopy forms a filter;
reducing the impact of heavy rain and
snowfalls and allowing moisture to drip
through to the ground below more gently

Soil
The pH varies, often tending to be acid
because of leaf litter: Soil is usually rich in
organic matter; moisture-retentive and
open rather than compacted.

Terrain_
Woodlands can be on flat terrain, slopes,
valleys, or uneven ground.The landscape
may include streams or pools and, in
some sites, large stones or boulders.

Deciduous woodland, above

Shrubs grow by a stream in a natural
woodland, taking advantage oj the higher light
levels in this natural break in the canopy.

Layered planting, left

In this Boston garden, dogwoods (Cornus
florida) grow in dappled sun beneath the trees,
underplanted with blue Phlox divaricata.
92 Natural Gardening

A Woodland Setting
In THE SOUTHWEST of England, sheltered valleys of native sessile
oak woodland dip between high, windblown hills. At Docton Mill,
where the garden includes the river, with its weir and mill race,
inspired landscaping echoes the surrounding hills and valleys and
has created “rooms within rooms.” The effect is of a garden at
peace with its woodland setting. The current gardener (not the
owner), Sarah Macdiarmid, says patience is vital for the natural
gardener, and advises waiting to see what grows naturally in the
garden — otherwise you may never discover the treasures that are
there. She also advises gardeners to take it easy on tidiness. “The
urge to tidy up, deadhead, mow closely, and weed can wipe out
the most interesting plants in a single season.”

A wooded
hollow, right
In spring, bluebells
(Hyacinthoides non-
scripta) and red
campion (Silene
dioica) appear
among native ferns.
Sensitive gardening
has produced a
successful interplay of
the wild and the
cultivated.

Secret steps, above

Bright yellow azaleas
frame a half-hidden
fight of woodland
steps, overlooked by a
fowering cherry tree.
 93

A quiet corner; left

Woodland
A wooden summer¬
house offers a quiet
retreat in a shady
wooded area planted
with ferns, grasses,
and brilliant
rhododendrons.

Gardens
Dappled glade, right
A shady area, edged
by a stream, is planted
with azaleas, maples,
and pieris, with
an underplanting
of wild bluebells.

Banks of native ferns Seasonal color

A mass of ferns, including Asplenium scolopendrium, Athyrium filix- In the spring, the steep banks are filled with naturalized daffodils,
femina, and species of Dryopteris, line a stretch of the river bank. primroses (Primula vulgaris), red campion, and bluebells.

Garden Profile

Origins_ Conditions: The garden itself is remarkably

Location: North Devon, England sheltered, considering its location is only
about A mile (0.8km) from the Atlantic coast.
Area: Approximately 8 acres (3 hectares).
History: The current owners took the garden
over in 1994; previously landscaped In 1980.
Selected Plant List
Trees: Acer pseudoplatanus, 8etula pendula,
Site Characteristics_ Crataegus spp., Fraxinus excelsior, Pyrus spp.,

Soil type: Mostly loam overiying clay, with Quercus spp., Sorbus spp_

some areas of almost solid clay.The pH Other plants: Ajuga spp., Digitalis purpurea,
varies from neutral through to acid, Filipendula spp,, Galium verum, Hyacinthoides
Climate: Temperate, mild, and wet. Rainfall non-scripta, Iris pseudacorus, Lychnis flos-cuculi,
is about 33in (830mm) a year The ground Narcissus spp., Primula spp., Prunella vulgaris,
rarely freezes in winter Narcissus naturalized in grass Silene dioica, Valeriana officinalis, Viola riviniana.
94 Natural Gardening

A Forest Clearing
The site of this garden in the northeastern US was originally a
forest of deteriorating trees. Despite the lack of light and a hard,
rocky, clay soil, Lisa Mierop has created a woodland habitat whose
interest extends over several seasons. Once the center of the
garden had been cleared, changes of level — small mounds and
undulations — were introduced, and curving paths were laid. Trees
and shrubs were then reintroduced, and perennial plantings were
established in areas of modified soil. Lisa Mierop is justifiably
proud of her efforts. As she comments: “What I visually imagined, Front garden, above ©
The planting at the front oj the house offers an
a naturalistic woodland garden spilling over cottage-style with
exuberant display of cottage-garden favorites
lush plantings, is exactly what has been achieved.” such as lilies, geraniums, and salvia.

First stage: "the moon crater”, above ©

The Mierops cleared trees to open up the garden
and to let in light. The trees on the borders of
the property were left to provide a framework.

Five years on: a lush shady garden, right ©

Despite some early setbacks, the garden is now
well and truly fourishing. The process of editing
initial plantings to create larger masses and
groups goes on, though with each year more
tree surgery is necessary to let in extra light.

Garden Profile

Origins_ Orientation: The front gets the most sun;

Location: The suburb of Upper Montclair;
New Jersey.
Area: About I4,500sq ft (1,350 sq m).
History: The garden was started in 1988
a site that was overgrown and neglected.
Site Characteristics
Soil type: Rocky clay; in the least shady
planting area, soil has been supplemented.
Climate: Temperate, with four distinct
seasons. Autumn brings warm Indian
summer days and vivid foliage.
the main garden at the rear receives little sun.
Selected Plant List_
on Trees: Betula spp., Cercis canadensis, Cornus
florida, C. kousa, Magnolia x soulangeana, Picea
glauca ‘Conica’, Styrax japonicus.
Shrubs: Species of 8erberis, Euonymus,
Hydrangea, Ilex, Philadelphus, Rhododendron
(including azaleas), Spiraea, Syringa, Viburnum.
Perennials: Anemone spp..Astilbe 'Superba’,
Brunnera macrophylla, Campanula carpatica,
Perennials fill a border close to the house. Euphorbia polychroma, Lysimachia punctata.
 95

Woodland
Gardens
Semishady border;
above ©
The border below the
house deck is filled
with ferns and
annuals to provide
a mixed bed.

Cottage style, left ©

White picket fencing
provides a strong
structure and a crisp
contrast to plants.

Woodland garden
glade, below ©
Mature oak trees and
Styrax japonicus
tower over striking
foliage plants and
groundcover, creating
a gladed ffect.
96 Natural Gardening

A Woodland Design
To DESIGN A GARDEN with a woodland backdrop seems easy,
until you realize that the major shift in scale to the woodland
beyond can make the garden look insubstantial and alien.
This example shows you how to work with the woodland so
that the feel of it sweeps into the garden, making it appear as
a sunny glade. Wooden railroad ties fan out toward the house,
infilled with pebbles. Beyond the planted area, the woodland
floor is allowed to develop — the plants that thrive there will
depend upon both the type of woodland and the density of
the tree canopy in summer. The garden in spring, before
the trees are in full leaf, is always a joy, with masses of
woodland subjects that enjoy such a situation. Summer and
autumn are more difficult, since the ground can be both
dry and dark. You can improve this by adding a mulch of
well-rotted leaves so that ferns can grow and, in
lighter areas, introduce later interest with autumn-
flowering bulbs. When the backdrop is at its greenest,
the herbaceous plants, growing in full sun in the glade,
will also come into their own.

Cultural Influences
Since earliest times, wood has been a
major element in the construction of
structures and buildings. In the last
two centuries, industrial processes
have lessened the demand, but in
recent years there has been a revival
of interest in and renewed appreciation
of many kinds of woodcraft, from
well-carved furniture to gates, stiles,
wattle fences, and even woven
basketwork for the garden.
 97
'M

Woodland
Natural Inspirations
Explore the woodland area nearest to your own
location for planting ideas throughout the year. Many
... ji p ■ 4 pp native plants that grow in the shade and at the
s* -* ' „i> -N peripheries will also work well in the garden.
W yri. 'r V * - -»- A
.IMS/

Many ferns flourish in shade

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Woodland in a dusting of snow

Ss^;;
A John Brookes Plan
A small garden in a suburban area abuts existing
woodland. By going with the mood, the garden
T terrace seems part of a woodland clearing.

Younger
beech trees

_Foxgloves

Perennials with
honeysuckle
on a fence
98 Natural Gardening

Managing a Woodland Garden

For gardeners in temperate regions, the best
examples of natural plant groupings come from -
the associations in clearings or at the edges of
semi-natural, broad-leaved woodland. Our
woodlands have been managed for generations
to provide lumber and fodder, and without this
intervention, they would be thick forest with
nothing growing beneath the dense leaf canopy.
Only with filtered light are the other layers of
vegetation able to develop and create the full
profile of plants from herb to tree that the
gardener seeks to establish.

Making a Nut Walk

A nut walk is formed by planting
rows of nut trees and then cutting
them back to encourage them to
make an arch. Hazel (Corjlus spp.)
is particularly suitable for this;
seven years or so after planting, the
trees are generally coppiced (see
opposite) or cut back. They then
quickly become multistemmed,
creating a living canopy. The
famous hazel Nuttery at
Sissinghurst Castle in England (see
right) is pruned each year to remove
any unhealthy stems and excess
shoots; old, well-shaped branches
are left to preserve the shape.

Sketch for a nut walk

Coppiced stems and a light leaf canopy allow
plants to flourish beneath. The idea is to under¬
plant in broad drifts, perhaps with woodland
bulbs and perennials for seasonal interest.

A nut walk with spring planting

At Sissinghurst Castle, the nut walk created by
Vita Sackville-West is fully planted within an
avenue of filberts (Corylus maxima).
 99

Woodland
Coppicing Trees
Coppicing woodland — cutting back trees almost to
ground level — stimulates regeneration and new growth.
This drastic approach to established trees is a way to
bring woodland back to the domestic scale of a garden,
while at the same time allowing in light and encouraging
new plant associations — such as spring bulbs followed by
wild flowers — to establish themselves. The word coppice
comes from the French couper, meaning “to cut.” I Cutting the tree

Characteristic regional coppicing combinations include
hazel and ash on clay, beech and oak on sandstone, and
hazel and chestnut on well-drained land.
Gardens
I This previously coppiced hazel (Corylus spp.) is being cut again.Work
around the tree in a spiral from the outside in, cutting back each stem.
Cut the stems at an angle, so that the cut slopes downward away from the
center to allow water to run off and so help prevent rot.

New growth
A hazel hedge 2—3 years after
coppicing shows vigorous new
growth. It is growing in association
with young oak trees.
3 After five years
The hedge is now a mass of
vertical stems. Some could be laid
laterally, interwoven with verticals,
to make a denser barrier.

A coppiced wood in autumn, left

This coppiced sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) woodland is 14years old.
The canopy is less dense than it would be with uncut trees, letting more
light through and allowing underlying plants and bulbs to grow.

Woodland Shade Planting Planting Plan

Many temperate woodland-floor plants have

interesting leaf shapes and coloration, the result of
their having adapted to the shady conditions, and there
is less emphasis on flower color. Beneath silver birch
(Betula alba) with an ivy groundcover, I put together
an association of ferns with native hellebore and
autumn-flowering cyclamen.

Positioning plants
Before planting,
position the plants in
natural groupings.
Step back to see how
the arrangement looks
from a variety of
viewpoints, and adjust
it as necessary.
00 Natural Gardening

Working in a Woodland Garden

The challenge for the natural gardener is to
create and manage the garden so that it is both
practical and enjoyable, without compromising
the characteristic feel of the woodland habitat.
Structures such as paths and steps should be
made of natural materials — especially wood —
that weather well and look appropriate in a
woodland setting. When choosing a tree for
>■ planting, indigenous species are in general likely
to be a better choice, and to attract a greater
range of wildlife, than introduced species. Native
oaks are particularly good host plants; bur, red,
and white oaks, for example, may support nearly
300 different insect species.

Making a Path Using Railroad Ties

Railroad ties may be used for creating structures in the
natural garden, such as for building walls and raised
beds, constructing steps, or defining a pathway, as seen
here. Their sizes vary, and if they have had a long and
hard life, so does their condition — but all have been
well treated with preservative (creosote) so that they
are durable. When sawing ties, watch out for nails that
may be concealed within them. If you prefer to avoid
the potential health hazard of creosote in ties, you
could use pressure-treated landscape timbers instead.

I The existing site

I The stepping stones through
this consolidated gravel are
spaced too Jar apart to indicate
a pathway. Railroad ties will
form a better link.
one side and excavate the site to
a depth slightly greater than that
of the ties to allow for a base
layer of gravel.
gravel in the desired pattern.
Consolidate them, checking that
they are level and alsofush with
the surrounding ground.
4 Filling in the gaps
Baclfill between the ties
with the excavated earth and
consolidate it by firming with
your heels. In dry weather, water
the soil to help compact it.

wiM

5 Adding gravel
Add a layer of gravel to cover
the compacted earth. Roll and
consolidate it between the ties so
SI&Tfc
that it is even and at the same
level as the ties. The finished path makes a distinctive yet natural-looking link between two parts of the garden.
 0

Woodland
Planting a Tree
Paths and Steps
It is important to give a
In a woodland setting, artificial materials such
tree a good start so that it
as brick or paving for paths and steps can look
can become well established.
out of place. Sawn hardwood logs may be packed
Container-grown trees
together vertically, retained by boards. Plants may should be presoaked in
be grown, or allowed to self-seed, in the gaps.
their pots and the roots
Large cross-sections of felled trees are sometimes
gently teased out before
used as “stepping stones”. Where a softer look is planting. When using a

Gardens
required, use a loose material such as bark mulch,
stake, knock it in off- Marking out the hole
pine needles, or woodchips. center on the windward Mark out the hole so that it is
about 2-3 times the width of the
A Woodland Log Path Sawn hardwood logs side; it should reach no
are cut to a length of
rootball. Remove any turf. Dig out
more than one third of the the hole to slightly more than the
Coarse, sharp sand 4—8in (10—20cm) and
between the gaps packed close together way up the tree’s stem. height of the rootball.
encourages growth

Sawn, treated
timber is used for
the retaining edge

3 Loosening the roots

Wooden pegs, driven
deep into the ground,
The logs are bedded hold the retaining
on gravel 2-3in edges together
(5-8cm) deep
and base of the hole with a fork so
that the tree’s roots can spread
easily. Mix the soil from the hole
with well-rotted organic matter.
Knock in a stake, if using. Add
some of the soil mixture to the
hole. If you are planting a pot-
bound tree, loosen the roots before
positioning the tree in the hole.

Woodland path
A path made of
hardwood tree sections,
sunk into the ground.
These can become
slippery, so use a wire
brush to roughen
their surface.

Forest floor
Woodchips or bark
mulch are ideal for
an informal path. The
area can be edged
with logs or allowed
to run informally
4 Checking planting depth
To check that the soil is at the
5 The planted tree
Water the tree well, then apply
into the planting. same level as the soil mark on the a mulch 2—2'Ain (5-7cm) deep
stem, lay a stake across the hole. around it. Secure the stake to the
Baclfill with the soil mix,firming tree with a hose-covered wire to
the soil in stages. prevent bark damage.
102 Natural Gardening

Wetland
Gardens
ORE than ANY other type of habitat,

wetland can host an extraordinary

range of plants and wildlife. For
centuries, wetland areas were little valued and
they were routinely drained for use as farmland
or for development, being lost forever. Only
now is there an increasing awareness that these
are precious places that should be preserved and
treasured. Any area of damp ground can be
classified as wetland - marshy flats, calm pools,
the damp banks of a river or stream, or a boggy
area, swamp, or waterlogged ground. Distinctive
characteristics depend on factors such as water
depth throughout the season, speed of flow, and
the type of marginal land, as well as the plants
found both in the water and at its edges. If you
seek to have a diversity of both flora and fauna in
the garden, a water feature of some kind is vital.

Garden meets water

Located beside a saltwater inlet on Long Island (above), this natural
garden (right) by Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden fuses
Miscanthus species grasses with native reeds at the water s edge.
Wetland Gardens
ISlll
04 Natural Gardening

The Water Gardener General Conditions

HE KEY TO CREATING A natural water feature is to study
examples from nature. You may wish to re-create these fairly
accurately in the garden, but for maximum impact try a bolder
Types of Wetland_
Ponds and pools: Water is usually fairly
still, allowing inclusion of floating and
submerged plants as well as marginals.
Rivers and streams: Planting depends on

interpretation. Large areas of water, for example, demand strong
planting statements: group clumps of the same species together
rather than dotting them around. Keep your planting design
simple; avoid the tendency to create decorative little features with
plants and stones — nature will quickly engulf them. At the same
time, try to create as many different growing situations as possible
by varying the soil and water depths to include a wide palette of
plant material — from the handsome foliage of bog or marsh
plants, to the brightly colored winter stems of wetland trees and
shrubs such as willow, alder, and red-twig dogwood.
the current and flow. Marginals are found
on damp banks.
Bogs and waterlogged ground:
Depending on the degree of saturation,
these areas may support anything from
moisture-loving plants to true bog plants,
which tolerate waterlogged ground.
Meadows and marshes: Conditions vary,
depending on how wet the ground is
and, in meadows, whether it is wet all
year round or only seasonally.
Soil_
A working definition of wetland is land
where the soil is saturated for at least
seven consecutive days a year and/or
where the water table comes, and stays,
within 12in (300mm) of the surface for
seven days a year In bogs and natural
ponds, the soil is clay and typically heavy

A naturalized Dutch water garden

Mountain pools, above

Mountain streams in Colorado
form a series of small pools in
natural indentations in the rock,
and these are quickly colonized
by water-loving plants.

Water meadow, above

The fat countryside of the Netherlands is
punctuated by natural ponds with lush
marginal plant communities.

Garden cascade, right

The natural association of rock
and water has been reinterpreted Wetland habitat, right
in this garden in Oregon to The Dutch are pioneers in creating ecologically
include a miniature waterfall and correct natural habitats. This lovely wetland
well-defined rocky banks. pool is at Thijsse Park, south of Amsterdam.
Wetland Gardens

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06 Natural Gardening

A Lakeside View
If THE MESSAGE to the natural gardener is to “go with the flow Blending in
The house and garden
then this man-made lake on a Dorset estate in England is a good
now sit comfortably
case in point. The idea for water came to my client one winter, within their watery
landscape, separated
when part of the surrounding grazing beyond the garden was
from the lake only
flooded; he loved the way it provided a foreground to views of by a low retaining

rolling farmland. Creating the lake was relatively straightforward, wall, which was part
of the original
although after excavating the area we discovered that the water ditch (ha-ha).
table is high at certain times of the year, and it was necessary to
install a pump beneath the butyl liner to prevent it from floating.
The edges of the liner were laid over a concrete rim, then
backfilled with earth into the lake. This allows grass to run to the
edge of the water and provides a transitional zone for marginal
plants that associate with water. The many native bog plants that
have since been established provide a rich habitat for wildlife.

Design Source
To work visually, the lake
had to have a certain scale;
too small an area of water
would merely have looked
like a garden pond. To
demonstrate how I arrived I First overlay
I The line of the brow of
2 Second overlay
This rolling sweep is
at the swirling composition,
the hill rolls into continued to provide the
I have laid successive traces parallel lines of hedging outline of the lake,
over a photograph of the and woodland to create creating bays and
a serpentine effect. promontories.
finished lake as the design
progresses, taking the form
of the distant landscape, its
hedges and woodland, as
my starting point.

3 Third overlay
The scale oj the lake is
established in relationship to the
surrounding landscape.
4 Finishing touches
Drifts of native plants are added to the design to
create a perfect welding of new and old, with the lake
merging into the existing landscape.
 07

Wetland
Natural integration, left
Reeds, rushes, water lilies, and
willows blend into a background
of native field vegetation.

Gardens
Echoing the land, below
The sweep and repetition of the
landscape give way to the sinuous
outline of foreground water.

•
08 Natural Gardening

Plan Analysis
The garden AT the rear of this handsome farmhouse in England’s West

Country (see pp. 106—107) looks out on to a formal lawn punctuated

by trees, with grazing beyond for horses; from the house, the lawn and
pastureland appear to run on without interruption. This visual trick is
achieved by surrounding the lawn with a wide ditch, known in England
as a ha-ha. This eighteenth-century device negates the need for a fence
(which would impede the open outlook) to keep out livestock — the
name may be a humorous reference to the fact that the ditch is invisible
until, “ha-ha!”, you walk right into it. The lake is sited to one side of this
feature, further linking the garden with the countryside beyond.
r

The lake under

Sweeping views ®
construction ®
The two cedar trees
The cushioned butyl
from the top lawn
liner is laid over the
have subsequently
concrete shore. Reeds and
been removed to open
rushes' •
up the view oj the
Early growth © lake from the house.
Newly established
marginal plants
quickly soften the
edges of the lake,
while the mound and
planting screens farm
buildings adjacent
to the house.

Garden Profile

Origins_ Climate: Temperate.

Location: Dorset, England Orientation: The rear of the house faces
Area: The lake is about I acre (0.4 hectare). southwest; the lake is situated to the west of
History: The garden around the house was the house.
completed in 1984-1985.The lake was
constructed three years later Selected Plant List_
Trees and shrubs: Cornus alba 'Sibirica',
Site Characteristics C. a. ‘Spaethii’, Salix alba 'Chermesina',
Soil type: A thin layer of earth covered a S. a. subsp. vitellina, S. caprea, S. ‘Chrysocoma',
deep vein of gravel, so deep that the local S. daphnoides.
authority thought that we were digging Water plants and marginals: Butomus
commercially for gravel when we started umbellatus, Nuphar lutea, Typha latifolia
excavating for the lake. Yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea) (cattails).
 109

Wetland
Gardens
Wetland planting ©
A native white water
lily (Nymphaea alba)
is backed by cattails
(Typha latifolia), with
willow beyond.

Contoured mound
with planting

New tree
planting

Lake
tbuildings

ous

Lawn
0 Natural Gardening

Cultural Influences
A Wetland Design The “farming”
O
of reeds and cattails

I HAVE PLACED this excavated pond in a temperate wetland area and the coppicing of willow in the
form of osier beds are traditional
that is slowly silting up and growing over. As a visual composition,
wetland practices in temperate
a pond is usually very strong, the horizontal plane of the water
regions. The reeds are used for
contrasting with the vertical forms of the rushes and irises and
thatching and the willow for various
perhaps the drooping outline of a weeping willow. Here, the pool woodcrafts, including basketwork.
gives an expanse of clear water for birds to use, as well as a
habitat for damp-loving plants at the water’s edge. A small
island provides a haven for waterfowl where predators
cannot reach them, and a decking bridge offers a
good place from which to observe the wildlife. It
also has the visual effect of entrancing the linear
picture. Native irises and waterlilies are planted at
different depths of water, and below the surface
there are oxygenating plants that help keep the
pool clear. At the water’s edge there are plantings
of Salix and Cornus species, which are coppiced each
spring so that the brilliant colors of their young
shoots light up the banks in winter. The effect is
one of managed wildness, for a watery site in
the garden always requires a certain amount of
informed seasonal maintenance.

Natural Inspirations
I am very excited by plant shapes
in temperate wetland, for they have
great visual strength — the circular
pads of waterlilies and the verticals
of reeds and cattails, juxtaposed with
the more subtle, and often more
colorful, forms of marsh plants.
I like to exaggerate these
associations in a garden by
arranging them in large
A John Brookes Plan
groupings, as seen here,
This plan contrasts the Japanese-like feel of the decking bridge
which are nevertheless
across the pond with the abundant vegetation of a temperate
carefully integrated into
wetland habitat. This is an ambitious project and would require a
the overall design.
certain amount of informed maintenance to sustain.
 Life focuses on the waterways in such a region

Bunches of cut willow to use for thatching roofs

Reeds and waterlily pads Iris sibirica growing in shallow water

i 12 Natural Gardening

Natural Ponds Larger Scale

If constructing a pond
To PLAN AND DESIGN a natural-looking pool so that it will be in tune with
on a larger scale, use a
its surroundings, use the local idiom as far as possible in terms of style and mechanical digger. Here,
materials. An appropriate site for the pool is anywhere that the contours of a backhoe is excavating the
the land form a hollow, preferably at the lowest point in the garden, which hole for an open pond

is where it would typically occur in nature. The shape of the pond, and the in a wetland setting. The

way you choose to edge it, will determine how well it fits into its setting. aim is to fit the sheet of
water into the landscape,
Consider whether you want a crisp distinction between pond and land, in
with a depth and profile
which case choose paving, wood, or grass. For a softer, more natural
designed to encourage a
effect, edge the pond with irregular pieces of rock, stone, or slate, lush
range of wildlife.
planting, or a gently sloping pebble or gravel shore.

Edging for Ponds

Grass makes a most attractive edging, although there is a
risk of erosion from heavy use and wildlife. Split logs, laid
lengthwise or upright, give a rural effect. For a sturdier
edging, you could use local stone; choose pieces that are
roughly square, not neatly shaped. With grained stone,
lay it so that the grain runs the same way in each piece.

Stone and Turf A stone and turf edging, left

Turf laid to the brink If a pond is bordered by grass, the
ground must be structurally sound.
To provide a stable foundation for
Stone on mortar
the turf mortar a footing of stones
around the inner wall of the pond.

Grass borders a um
In this natural setting (below), the
grass runs up to the edge of a pond.
A garden pond (right) uses stone
Liner Underlay and turf to create the same effect.

IIPA a
irA,
 i I 3

Wetland
Making a Shallow Pond
To create a small pond, use a flexible membrane liner, which can be cut to size;
butyl, for example, is both strong and flexible. This is best laid over cushion
underlay or sand to protect the liner from sharp stones. Another layer of cushion
underlay on top of the liner is advisable if you are lining the pool with stones. Hide
First stage: excavating the site
the edges of the liner, which should be secured under a surrounding medium.

Gardens
Second stage: constructing the edge

Concrete edging for a pebble beach I Digging out the shape

For a strong edge, form a concrete wedge just above I Dig the hole to the desired shape and depth, with
the water line. Lay the liner over that and then shallow sloping sides. Remove sharp stones. Form a
conceal it, perhaps with pebbles or cobblestones. hard rim of soil at the edge to stabilize the liner.

2 Positioning the underlay and liner 3 Planting the edges

Position plants at the correct
First lay a cushion underlay (such as a nonwoven geotextile) to
protect the pond liner, and then the liner itself. Lay pebbles around depth in concealed containers or
the rim, either loose or mortared in place for more stability. outside the liner.

4 The finished pond

If the pond is very shallow,
vu may want to cover the entire
>ase with pebbles. Make sure the
dge of the liner is concealed
y stones, trimming away any
xcess liner if necessary. Then
lowly fill the pond with water.
Oxygenating plants will be
lecessary, then snails. Don t
ush to introduce fish until a
talanced habitat is established.
Natural Gardening

Waterside Planting
One OF THE MOST diverse habitats is to be found at the water’s
edge, where a wide variety of plants can flourish. Waterside
plantings are probably the cheapest and easiest to achieve, and
they can also be combined with other water’s edge treatments
(see pp. 112—113) for a range of different styles. If you study
natural pondside arrangements you will see that the effect,
though very varied, is never staccato; plant masses drift into
one another and then subtly blend into the line of the beach.

Trees and Shrubs

Many temperate trees and shrubs have added
winter interest in the color of their stems,
especially if they are regularly coppiced, Both
Cornus spp. and willow (Salix spp.) have stems
that vary in color from acid green through
yellow and orange to brilliant red, giving double
the impact when reflected in water Willow and
alder (Alnus spp.) are also grown for their spring
catkins and, in the case of willow, their habit; the
weeping willow is the classic waterside tree.

Poolside planting
Around the outer edges of the pool, marginal
plants give way to water-loving shrubs and trees. Cornus stolonifera Salix x sepulcralis

Wetland Plant Life Bog Perennials

These plants prefer soils in which the root
Waterside plantings fall into distinct categories according
crown is at, or slightly above, water level for
to water depths. At the edge of natural wetlands there is a most of the time, although the level will go up
transitional zone between dryland and wetland plants — a and down throughout the season.They will not
tolerate being submerged for long periods of
boggy zone that may also be created around a garden
time, particularly in winter
pool by overlapping the liner with soil. In temperate
wetlands a typical plant association could start with reeds
and cattails whose mat of roots will seek to colonize
open water, providing a footing for trees such as willow The roots

and alder. Some wetland plants are hugely invasive, and if of cattails
(Typha latifolia)
left undisturbed will eventually dry out the marshland by build up into a mat
that forms a base
raising its level. Cutting back and thinning of wetland upon which other
plant material on a regular basis is therefore essential. emergent species
can grow, thereby
Maintaining a large area of wetland planting may require establishing the
transformation
approaching it from the water using waders, a small boat, from water to land.
or by dragging the pond. Pri m u I ajl orindae
 I 15

Wetland
Pond Contours Natural Contours

In the wild, the shape of a watery

Shrubby material
area will follow the contours of the laid on the
contours.
ground in bold open sweeps if the Shrubby material
laid on the
water is still; if it is flowing, its contours

outline will be more serpentine.

Where there is a current

Gardens
/ (
running, you will see a beach on
the inner side of a curve and an
abrupt edge on the outer. It is
getting such detail correct from the Contours 1
outset that will make your pond Open Island if
Reeds and cattails water required
look a natural part of the landscape.
The lie of the land
Plant in bold drifts over the
A landform near water has a flow if the water is a stream, or,
contours as far as is possible to
gentle curve to it,for in nature if still, by the forces of wind
emphasize the folds of the earth. it is shaped by the force of the and rain.

Emergent and Marginal Plants

Emergent plants are those with stems and leaves growing
above the water They are happy in a range of water
depths at pool edges and in slow-running streams. In this
category are marginals, which thrive with up to I Tin
(300mm) of water on the crown or root system.These
plants, many of which are vigorous in growth, typically
create the transition from land to water
Iris pseudacorus Typha latifolia

Floating-leaved Plants
These plants have their roots at the bottom of the
pool, typically at a depth of I-3ft (300-900mm), with
their foliage floating upon the surface. In this category
the best-known plants are waterlilies, which make an
attractive display of leaves and flowers.The planting
depth they require varies according to the species.

Nymphaea alba

Submerged Oxygenating Plants

These grow on the bottom of the pool and compete with
algae for nutrients, keeping their growth in check.The large
leaf area, which they need in order to compensate for low
light levels, releases oxygen, enabling the water to support
pond life.They also provide cover for fish and insects.

Ceratophyllum demersum Ranunculus aquatilis

i 6 Natural Gardening

Grassland
Gardens
FAR cry FROM the monotony of the flat,
cultivated lawn, temperate grasslands are
home to a great diversity of species —
both grasses and native broad-leaved plants, many
of which have highly colorful flowers. There are
different types of grassland, including various
dry prairies of the American Midwest, with
undulating waves of grasses threaded through
with wildflowers, the grassy plains of the South
African veldt, and the flat pampas of Argentina,
much of which is humid. All these regions are
characterized by broad, open, rolling landscapes.
True grasslands have few or no trees, so are in
full sun and are often exposed to sweeping
winds. Young tree seedlings find it hard to push
their way through the dense grass matrix, and
are further hampered by grazing, low rainfall,
periodic burning, and summer drought.

Patterns of growth
Wild pampas grass (Cortaderia spp.) is found in the pampas of
Argentina, and also in New Zealand (above). The growth habit of this
elegant plant is echoed in a grassy corner of a temperate garden (right).
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 19

Grassland
The Prairie Gardener
ou can get lost in true grassland — and a feeling of wildness
T could be your aim when creating a garden with a prairie
theme; tidiness is out of place here. The choice of plants will
depend largely on the native flora and on local conditions, such
as rainfall and soil type. In areas with enough rainfall, you can
create a meadowlike area to border a piece of woodland (see

Gardens
also pp. 86—87), while in dry areas with harsher temperature
extremes, a prairie garden with drought-tolerant plants would
be more appropriate. Even a median strip can be seeded with a
suitable mix of native grasses and wildflowers. In parts of the
Midwest, a growing awareness of native habitats has even been
translated into urban gardens bright with goldenrod, black-eyed
Susan, and sunflowers, all at the expense of the mown lawn.

A grassy garden bank, left Flowering grassland, above Open lands, above Garden context, top
An awkward, steep slope facing Bee-balm, willow-leaf sunflowers, The open, broad sweep of a rolling A bold swath o/~Rudbeckia species
the street is tranformed by an and yellow and purple con flowers prairie landscape is now mostly dominates this restored prairie
abundant prairie planting. are combined in a natural mix. farmland in the Midwest. garden in Wisconsin.

General Conditions

Climate_ Soil_ Terrain_

Prairie grasslands: These are
found in areas with hot, dry
summers and bitterly cold winters.
They are unprotected by trees
and are exposed to full sunlight.
Pampas grasslands: These have
a temperate and mainly humid
climate that favors the growth
of pasture with tender grasses,
Quality:The soil may be quite
rich and well-structured, improved by
the deep roots of plants and grasses,
and by legumes such as clovers and
vetches, which fix nitrogen in the soil.
Nutrients: Beware of fertilizing
the soil for new grassland, as this
tends to encourage unwanted
species at the expense of flowers.
Farmed prairie in Oregon
Open lands: Grassland is
characteristically open and in full
sun, Trees and other woody
plants are scarce.
Suitable locations: Natural
grasslands typically occur on fairly
flat or broadly rolling terrain;
grassy areas In gardens may also
be created on banks or slopes,
I 20 Natural Gardening

f-
On an Open Plain
On A LOW KNOLL on the flat plain of the Argentine pampas stands
the estate of El Choique Viejo. From the house, an expanse of
mown lawn merges with the wild pampas beyond, providing an
impressive panorama. In the past, I associated pampas grass with
a clump on a suburban front lawn; here, seen blowing en masse in
the wind, these flowering grasses appear as ocean waves, dotted
throughout with other grasses and wildflowers. In such open
spaces, wind is a constant problem, but eucalyptus — introduced
by early settlers to provide shelter and to act as familiar A sweeping statement ©
Against the clear blue of the sky and the pool, a
landmarks — provides screening, punctuates the enormous plain,
great dr ft of brilliant daylilies (Hemerocallis
and the blue-gray contrasts well with flowing pampas. cultivars) provides a splash of contrasting color.

The broad horizon ©

Mown lawn, studded with
acacia trees in the foreground
which give shade to the house in
summer, integrates the garden
into the sweeping horizon beyond
Hfe _ k V
in spectacular fashion. The great Hies.-? - aheA '
qualities of the pampas are
expressed in the negative — the
absence of strident colors;
the lack of sound other than the
wind in the grass and sporadic
birdsong; the vast, open space.

Garden Profile

Origins_ northeast of the pampas, annual rainfall is

Location: Sierra delTandil, to the south of 43in (I 100mm), but only 16in (400mm) in
Buenos Aires, Argentina. the southwest.
Area: Approximately 2 acres (0.8 hectare), Orientation: The property is on a slight
History: Started on completion of the house rise, facing north (i.e. sunny).
in 1975.1 first visited and made a plan in
1989, then visited again in 1994. Selected Plant List_
Grasses: Bromus brevis, Cortaderia selloana,
Site Characteristics_ Paspalum dilatatum, Spartina ciliata,
Soil type: Rich, moist, deep, slightly alkaline Sporobolus rigens, Stenotaphrum secundatum.
soil with, on this site, rocky outcrops. Wildflowers: These appear in spring before
Climate: Continental, with temperate, wet the grasses dominate, and include species of
winters and long, hot, dry summers. In the Silvery white poplars above golden grasses Oxalis and Oxypetalum.
 21

Grassland Gardens
Protective trees ® Screening from the elements ©
The swimming pool pavilion is sheltered by Stands of white poplars have been planted close to the edge of the swimming pool to help screen
eucalyptus. Rocky outcrops contain lagunas of water. it from the wind, which is a constant problem in this uninterrupted landscape.

A sea of grasses ©
Here, the pampas has been tamed to provide
an interesting garden grouping of grasses.

Rugged terrain ©
Outcrops of rock provide sculptural interest,
while the “lagunas”(natural pools) typical of
the pampas refect the unending sky above.
22 Natural Gardening

Planting a Prairie
LOOKING TODAY AT the stunning prairie garden of Neil Diboll in
Wisconsin, it is hard to imagine that the site was once an untidy
mass of weedy trees and shrubs. Neil, whose Prairie Plants
nursery specializes in wildflowers and native grasses, spent the
first two years clearing the area before seeding the prairie. He
recommends sowing in the autumn to break the dormancy of
Clearing the plot, above
many prairie seeds and thus increase germination in the spring.
Invasive trees and shrubs were cut
Five years on, his prairie garden has come into its own, and very down, piled up, and burned.

few weeds remain. As Neil points out, the advantages of a native

prairie garden, apart from its beauty, are lower maintenance, no An established prairie, right
Five years later, after a slow start,
fertilizers, very few herbicides (if any), and very low costs. the prairie garden is flourishing.

Existing prairie, above

An original prairie remnant has
been incorporated into the garden;
natives include little bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium).

Prairie and savanna, right

In late summer, the garden is filled
with purple conefowers (Echinacea
purpurea), stff goldenrods
(Solidago rigida), and rosinweeds
(Silphium integrifolium). They
form a tight-knit community with
prairie grasses, which effectively
prevents weeds from gaining
a hold. Trees associated with the
Midwestern oak savanna have been
allowed to stand, and these include
bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa),
white oak (Q. alba), black oak
(Q. velutina), and shagbark
hickory (Carya ovata).
 23

Grassland
Gardens
mm§8i|||o|
k&m pH

Autumn grasses, above

Big bluestem (Andropogon
gerardii) turns red in the autumn.

Prairie mix, left

Little bluestem is combined with
Bouteloua curtipendula.

Garden Profile

the growing season.Temperatures range from

Origins_
as low as -40°F (-40°C) up to I I5°F (46°C).
Location: South central Wisconsin.
Orientation: Sunny, south-facing hillside.
Area: About A acre (0.2 hectare).
History: The garden was designed in 1989
and sown mostly in autumn 1990.
Selected Plant List
Flowers: Aster laevis, Baptisia leucantha,

Site Characteristics_ Coreopsis lanceolata, Echinacea purpurea.

Eryngium yuccifolium, Lupinus perennis,
Soil type: Exposed dolomite bedrock, which
Monarda fistulosa, Penstemon digitalis, Ratibida
weathers to a thin layer of rich, dark, clay
pinnata, Rudbeckia hirta, Solidago rigida. _
soil.Thin, sandy loam topsoil in some areas.
Grasses: Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua
Climate: Modified continental climate.
Average annual rainfall is 30in (750mm); curtipendula, Elymus canadensis, Schizachyrium

droughts can last for 50 days or more during Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) scoparium, Sporobolus heterolepis.
124 Natural Gardening

Natural Inspirations
A Grassland Design It is the scale of the prairie landscape

Here I HAVE suggested a garden for a Midwestern “Prairie School that is so amazing, with wide open
spaces and an endless sky. Much of
of Architecture” house. The scale of the building is massive, with
these flower-decked lands was once
limestone used both in the structure of the house and its terrace
grazed by vast herds of bison.
walls and floor. Beneath the terrace there is a drought-tolerant
fescue lawn, on either side of which are prairie plantings of wild
flowers and grasses, making separate “management units.” Each is
mowed once in alternate years, to keep down trees and shrubs
and promote the growth of the meadow plants. In a region such
as this, summers can be brutally hot and dry and winters fierce
and frozen. These extreme conditions have produced not only
tough native plants but also strong architectural forms.

Cultural Influences
Few civilizations have identified themselves more closely
with the essence ol their homeland than that of the
Native American people. The would-be prairie gardener
can learn much from their woodcraft, their diet, and
their use of medicinal plants. There has been an overlay
ofWestern culture throughout this century, but now
.... ......there is, interestingly, a return to prairie thinking

Even farmed
are

Native American people living

close to the land

A John Brookes Plan

Plantings of prairie perennials are mixed
with grasses to create a bright and loose Overhanging
roof .VV
summer effect. This contrasts strongly
Yucca feature
with the structured limestone terrace, the plant

linear stepped walls, and the house, whose Limestone

terrace
broad overhanging roof provides shade
Mixed prairie
from the extreme summer glare. perennials
 125

Grazing bison

Grassland
on autumn
meadows

'

Gardens
nnite over
open prairie
26 Natural Gardening

Creating a Prairie
WHEN STARTING A PRAIRIE, the two imperatives are to make sure Prairie Planting Plan
The plan below shows the sort of planting that
that the site is in full sun and to clear all unwanted vegetation,
translates the prairie concept into domestic
especially perennial weeds, beforehand. Include only plants that garden terms. It could be planted in grass or in

are appropriate for your soil type (you may need to have it
analyzed first), and remember that, broadly speaking, the larger
the plant, the more moisture it needs; dry sites will foster shorter
species. Small areas can be planted with “plugs” (transplants), but
this is expensive and it can be hard to achieve a really natural
effect. An appropriate seed mixture includes the correct grasses
as well as native wildflowers, and on any large scale this is far
cheaper and the result more akin to true prairie.
a graveled surface.The size of each colored
block approximates plant sizes in maturity. I have
used both flowering perennials and grasses, all
of which can be supplemented with spring
bulbs. Consider using alliums, Camassia species,
true lilies (Lilium species), and fritillaries.

Techniques and Approaches

To establish a wild prairie, plantsman
Neil Diboll advises scattering prairie
seeds on the surface of the soil, in
the autumn if possible. This
encourages better germination and
higher seedling survival, because
germination occurs in the spring. Do
not till or rake the soil, as nature will
work the seeds into the soil over the
winter. Neil warns against raking the
soil to prepare the seedbed, since
this brings up more weed seeds.
Control perennial and biennial weeds
that show up in the first two or three
years. This is the critical period for
prairie plants, so do not allow
problem weeds to gain a foothold.
Creating a prairie garden border is a
less ambitious project, and I have
devised a relatively simple plan
opposite to show how this might be
done.Transplants are used to
combine prairie plants with garden
flowers and grasses in a drift-and-
flow effect (see pp.84—85) that
mimics plant distribution in the wild.

Routine Care
You don’t need to feed or water a
wild prairie garden, but a regular
patrol to remove any invasive
weeds is highly advisable. Allow
prairie plants to self-seed, and cut
down the prairie only in late One square = 4in/IOcm ® Allium cristophii

winter or early spring (this

ensures vital seed food for wildlife
through sparse times), then rake
off the material. Although in
nature the prairie might burn
periodically, this can be dangerous
to conduct in a domestic setting
and is not recommended.
Low-maintenance garden
A wild prairie can take care of itself, but it
will still need mowing once a year.
Growing conditions, above
The ideal location for this proposed prairie-
style planting is a moderately fertile, well-
drained soil in full sun — perhaps a sunny bank
or gentle slope. In these conditions, the plants
will grow to be quite lush, and some will
achieve heights oj 6ft (1.8m) or more,
particularly the grasses. The overall effect is
intended to be reminiscent of ancient tallgrass
prairie, which is now, sadly, all but extinct.
 27

Grassland
Plants for Prairies

Dry, Sandy Soil Grasses

Amorpha canescens Andropogon gerardii

Asclepias tuberosa 8outeloua curtipendula
Aster spp. Carex pensylvanica
Callirhoe triangulata Elymus canadensis
Campanula rotundifolia Koeleria cristata
© Verbascum © Eupatorium ® Solidago ® Stipa gigantea Coreopsis tinctoria Panicum virgatum
chaixii^ album purpureum ‘Golden Wings’ An evergreen grass Echinacea pallida
This hardy garden The prairie plant Joe Another tall prairie known as golden Euphorbia corollata

Gardens
perennial grows Co Pye weed can grow as plant, this can reach oats, it may reach 8ft Geum triflorum
36in (90cm). high as 7ft (2m). 6Jt (1.8m) high. (2.5m) in height. Helianthus mollis
Liatris aspera
Lupinus perennis
Monarda fistulosa
Ranunculus rhomboideus
Rudbeckia hirta Rudbeckia hirta
Solidago nemoralis Black-eyed Susan
Tradescantia ohiensis thrives on dry to
Verbena stricta medium soils.
©
© Deschampsia Medium Soil Grasses
:
cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ Allium cernuum Andropogon gerardii

© Tussock grass is an Aster spp. Elymus canadensis

evergreen, with a Baptisia australis Sorghastrum nutans
dense, tussock forming Caulophyllum thalictroides Sporobolus heterolepis
habit; height no more Ceanothus americanus
than 30in (75cm). Desmodium canadense
Dodecatheon meadia
Echinacea spp.
Geranium maculatum
Heuchera richardsonii
Liatris aspera
Penstemon digitalis
Polemonium reptans Echinacea spp.
Ratibida pinnata The con flower is a
Silene regia prairie favorite,
® Koeleria cristata Silphium integrifolium and will grow in a
A native prairie grass Solidago speciosa medium, well-drained
known as Junegrass, Zizia aptera soil in full sun.
this perennial rarely
exceeds 2ft (60cm) Moist Soil Grasses

in height. It grows Asclepias incarnata Andropogon gerardii

particularly well in Aster spp. Elymus canadensis
dry, sandy soil. Chelone glabra E. virginicus
Eupatorium maculatum Spartina pectinata
E. perfoliatum
Filipendula rubra
Gentiana andrewsii
Hypericum pyramidatum
Iris missouriensis
Liatris pycnostachya
Lilium superbum
Lobelia cardinalis
® Allium cristophii ® Echinacea ® Miscanthus ® Geranium Rudbeckia laciniata Aster cordifolius
This bulbous plant purpurea sinensis ‘Silbefeder’ ‘Johnson’s Blue’ Silphium perfoliatum An aster that prfers
prefers full sun and ‘Robert Bloom’ Deciduous perennial This herbaceous Thalictrum dasycarpum moist, fairly fertile
will grow up to 12in A garden variety of grass that grows to perennial will grow Vernonia fasciculata soil in partial shade.
(30cm) high. the prairie cornflower. 12ft (4m) in height. in most soils.
28 Natural Gardening

Dryland
Gardens
ROM THE HOT deserts of the Middle East to
the high, cold slopes of the Andes, about
one-third of the world’s land surface is
one form of dryland or another. What they have
in common are poor soils, low rainfall, and
extremes of temperature, making cultivation
difficult. A traditional domestic approach has been
to try to escape the desert by making shaded
courtyards or patios and filling them with alien
plants that need plentiful irrigation, or even
cultivating thirsty lawns. But change is afoot,
particularly in the southwestern United States,
where the approach is to foster a partnership
with these surprisingly rich ecosystems. Elere,
plants such as acacias, cacti, and other succulents
that have adapted to survive in such challenging
conditions are used to create gardens in
sympathy with their stark surroundings.

A lesson in landscaping
The magnificent landscape of the Orange River gorge, South Africa,
(above) is reinterpreted in this Johannesburg garden (right) by designer
Patrick Watson to provide a wild fantasy in a walled city space.
Dryland Gardens
I 30 Natural Gardening

Out in the wild west, right

The Desert Gardener The spectacular beauty oj wild desert Jlowers

includes Eschscholzia species in the Santa
Catalina mountains of Arizona.
he various ecosystems found in dryland habitats are finely
balanced, and it takes a certain amount of expertise to garden Adapted for survival, below
well in these areas. Scarcity of water is a major problem, but A Tucson garden brings together a range of
desert plants that have evolved in different ways
the gardener can improve conditions by introducing windbreaks
to cope with the dryland conditions.
to lessen the effects of drying winds, and mulches to reduce
evaporation. In the wild, desert plants tend to be spaced out — a
necessary survival tactic where the water supply is meager — and
a garden design can reflect this adaption. Their distinctive textures
and unusual shapes are perfectly designed to cope with life in the
intense, dry heat. For example, the ribs of some euphorbias and
cacti direct any available moisture to the roots, while the fleshy
leaves of succulents store water for long periods. Many plants
have white or silver leaf surfaces that reflect the sun.

General Conditions

Stark dryland beauty in West Africa

Climate
Rainfall: Drylands have less than 20in
(500mm) of rain a year; true deserts less
than lOin (250mm). Periods of drought
may be very extensive. Some areas have
periodic heavy rainstorms.
Wind: Desiccating, often sand-laden, winds
increase moisture loss and soil erosion.
Temperatures: These vary enormously
according to site.Typically, drylands have
long, hot, arid summers. In some areas, the
Natural inspirations, above temperature drops well below freezing
Even on a small scale, a feeling of at night.There may even be snow.
space is retained in this South
African garden, with each plant Soil_
self-contained. The complementary Soil in dryland habitats is typically poor low
hard materials echo the textures in fertility and organic matter and very free-
and colors of the desert floor. draining. It may have a high sand content or
be very stony, and is prone to erosion.

T ERRAIN_
Limited resources, right Drylands include a range of very different
Because plants in desert areas must terrains: sandy plains, rocky plateaus, high-
compete for what little water there altitude scree, coastal deserts.They are
is, they are often well spaced out often very open and windswept with little
and separate, as in this rocky plain shelter so most vegetation is low-growing.
on the African continent.
 I 3 i

W&mS-

Dryland
“' Ifei s, sits

Gardens
wmmm
32 Natural Gardening

Life in the Desert

One OF THE saving graces ofTucson, Arizona, is its lack of water Green oasis, right
The house seems to be
(very different from its neighbor, Phoenix), which means that this
part of the landscape,
area has retained its desert identity. Plants that cannot survive surrounded by shrubby
foothills palo verde
drought and scorching summers simply perish. Here, in the
(Cercidium
Santa Catalina foothills to the north of the city, landscape microphyllum),

architect Philip Van Wyck has created a spectacular desert garden, desert hackberry
(Celtis pallida), and
drawing his inspiration from a countryside dominated by palo verde spiny Engelman’s
trees and saguaro cacti, and cut through with natural drainage prickly pear (Opuntia
phaeacantha).
corridors, or washes. The rear garden in particular is a gallery of
bold, sculptural plants: prickly pears, other cacti, and succulents
such as agaves, aloes, and euphorbias. Philip’s love and respect for
desert plants is obvious: “Which is not to say,” he points out, “that
I don’t use exotics or nondesert plants as well, but that is not
where I start.” Nevertheless, his sensitive choice of introduced
species ensures that nothing looks too foreign or out of place.

Form and Function

In desert areas, where wood is scarce, the native vegetation is used for
construction. The saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) grows slowly to 40ft
(12m) or more — a striking vertical emphasis among other desert plants —
and can live to be 2S0 years old. Early Spanish settlers used the split, dried
plant as ceiling laths (now, only plants that have died naturally are used).

Living fencing
Stems of ocotillo (Fouquieria
splendens) are cut, tied
together, and stuck directly into
the ground, where many take
root to form a living fence. Fresh
foliage appears when there is
rain, and in spring bright red
fowers attract hummingbirds.
 133

Dryland
Succulents and shrubs, left
Catclaw acacia (Acacia greggii)
provides a backdrop for Euphorbia
and Cereus species, and small
clusters of golden barrel cactus
(Echinocactus grusonii).

Gardens
The rear of the house, below
Looking along the wash, the
architectural forms if sword-leaved
agaves and fleshy cacti create an
impressive tableau of shapes.
I 34 Natural Gardening

Plan Analysis
In the entrance garden (see pp. 132—133),
much of which is a walled-in space, a natural
feel has been retained by centering the design
around an existing large native palo verde tree
(Cercidium microphyllum), which also provides
shade from the intense summer sun. This space
is sheltered and used for evening barbecues.
Arizona sandstone paving floors the area, with
vernacular detailing in rough, sawn woodwork,
wrought iron, and the use of stuccoed masonry.
The rear garden has a more open quality, looking Architectural forms ©
A fleshy Opuntia ficus-indica and ribbed Cereus
toward the Santa Catalina mountains, with views
hildemannianus Jorm strong shapes against a
framed or screened by plants. wall, complemented by the sculptural barbecue area.

Garden Profile

Origins_ Selected Plant List

Location: Sonoran Desert, Arizona. Shade trees: Acacia smallii, Cercidium
Area: About 15,000sq ft (1,400sq m). microphyllum, Prosopis alba, P. chilensis.
History: The garden was started in 1992. Shrubs: Celtis pallida, Dalea frutescens,
Leucophyllum frutescens, Pithecellobium
Site Characteristics flexicaule, Vauquelinia californica.
Soil type: Fairly alkaline and low in organic Cacti: Cereus spp., Echinocactus spp„

matter At the rear the soil ranges from Echinocereus spp., Ferocactus spp, Opuntia
hardpan through clay to ledge rock and sand. basilaris, 0. phaeacantha, 0. robusta, 0.
Climate: Summer temperatures of 100°F violaceae, Trichocereus spp.

(38°C) in the shade, 70°F (21 °C) in winter; Succulents: Agave americana.A. colorata.A.
down to 25°F (-4°C) or less at night. Annual parryi.A. scabra.Aloe barbadensis.A. ferox, A.
rainfall is approximately Din (300mm). Golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) saponaria, Euphorbia spp.
 135
Granite boulders

Dryland
Gardens
Across the wash ©
pati o The wooden bridge,
heavy boulders, and
plants provide textural
interest all year round.

Rock seat-wall

Entrance

Barbecue

Sandstone
paving
Desert forms ©
The geometric lines of
the wall, doorway, and
lintel are matched
by the equally strong
shapes of Agave
americana and
upright saguaro, and
are offset by the softer
form of the Texas rain
sage (Leucophyllum
frutescens).
I 36 Natural Gardening

A Desert Design
This courtyard garden has a strong Moorish-Spanish influence,
and could be in Mexico, the Middle East, or the southwest United
States. I envisage the house as being of adobe, flat-roofed, with
stairs at the side. The terra-cotta paved terrace is bordered by
shallow rills of water with fountain jets, while above it is a rustic
pergola of circular poles, smothered in vines to provide cooling
shade. At the end of the terrace, dappled shade is provided by
a feathery albizia tree (Albizia sp.), backed by palms. The
water rills diverge from a raised fountain basin,
whose gently gushing water gently trickles into
them at its base. The whole effect is of a
shady retreat, further cooled by the
soothing sound of running water.

Cultural Influences
The main influence here is the
Islamic gardens of the Middle
East and Spain, which excel
at bringing much-needed
structure to the desert
garden, particularly
constructions that provide
cool, shaded areas. The
water rills remind me of
irrigation channels in the
desert, but they also feature
in Islamic gardens.

Strong plant forms

A water fountain
in the Alhambra
echoes a desert
watering hole
 I 37

Dryland
Natural Inspirations
I have combined palm-fringed oases
with the stark beauty of cacti and
succulents in this dryland garden.
Water is rare in the desert, and all
the more precious in the garden
for that reason. Observe the

Gardens
many patterns in the desert.

A desert landscape
in Arizona

Wind-ripple pattern
in the sand

A John Brookes Design

I have included shade in this desert garden, for
life is often lived outside. The sound of water
is introduced for coolness, with a range of
colorful plants to relieve the monotony
of unremitting sand and dust Shady palms

Grapevine Albizia sp.

pergola
SSA-OA u x—n

Steps to the
Terra-cotta
'i'-jnffi r00ft0P

Lizard in
water pitchers
4
i.^■ Water
' rill
Flowering
Sonora, Mexico groundcover
Fountain basin
38 Natural Gardening

Maintaining the Dry Garden

A DEARTH OF WATER and extreme temperature
shifts might seem a dull and unpromising
habitat. In fact, the adaptations of plants to
these extremes have produced very interesting
modifications, albeit ones that are exacting in
their requirements. Selecting the right plants for
the right spot may take careful research. In the
foothills of the Santa Catalina mountains in
California, for example, the gardener may
encounter a range of soils — such as hardpan, clay,
ledge rock, and sand — all within a relatively
small area. An extra hazard is that, compared
with what lies beyond the boundary, the garden
may offer a good source of vegetation to rodents,
so young plants may need to be surrounded by
wire mesh until they are established.

Creating Shade
Many plants of dryland climates
require shade, and where the
landscape has been stripped of its
natural tree covering it is necessary
to re-create the shade to regenerate
the vegetation beneath. While shade
can be provided by artificial
structures, trees are an excellent way
of giving varying degrees of shade
according to their height and the
density of their canopy. The scale of
your site will help you decide on the
size of tree or trees that you need.
Remember that what grows naturally
will do the job best, and never, ever,
clear a site of its existing trees — they
are your biggest asset.

Shady palms
Date palms in a dryland landscape create
pools of filtered light, giving shade
to this paved entrance forecourt.

Trees for Partial Shade Trees for Dense Shade

Albizia julibrissin t rosea Acacia spp. (many)

Cercidium microphyllum
Cordyline australis
Eriobotrya japonica
Eucalyptus formanii
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Ligustrum lucidum
Lysiloma microphylla
Jacaranda
Melia azedarach
mimosifolia
Parkinsonia aculeata
The tree can reach
Phoenix canariensis
a maximum height
Pithecellobium flexicaule
of 50ft (15m).
Vitex agnus-castus
Albizia distachya
Casuarina spp. (various)
Cercidium floridum
Eucalyptus spp. (many)
Fraxinus uhdei
Gleditsia triacanthos
Pinus canariensis
Cordyline Eucalyptus Pinus
Pinus halepensis
australis pauciflora canariensis
Populus arizonica
This treelike palm A dense, spreading This conifer may
Prosopis chilensis
may reach 10—33f tree growing to reach a towering
P. glandulosa
(3-10m). 70ft (20m). 80ft (25m).
Tipuana tipu
 139

Minimal Lawn
It is understandable that people crave the cool of lush
green grass when they are restricted to a desert
landscape. But grass has to be regularly watered and
fed to survive, and it therefore makes sense to keep
the size of your green area in proportion to the
Dryland
amount of water available. Here I have created a small
stone-edged circle of lawn, whose dimensions are
directly related to the pressure of water issuing from
the pop-up sprinkler at its center. The sprinkler is fed
from the main water supply by an underground pipe.

Gardens
Shrub and Perennial Border Plumbago- Oenothera
capensis x 2 berlandieri x 12
I have chosen evergreen, summer-flowering
shrubs in white and shades of red for the border
Pittosporum
The exception is the Plumbago, which brings a tobira x 3_ Nerium
refreshing dash of blue.The Nerium is lovely, but oleander
Agapanthus spp.
its foliage is toxic and may irritate the skin. (white) (white) x 5
x5
Plumbago
Tecoma_
capensis x 4
capensis x 3

Pop-up
Cercis_ sprinkler
occidentalis x I
Oenothera
berlandieri x 12

Yucca filamentosa x 2

Plumbago capensis Nerium oleander

Oasis in the Desert Climbers and Vines for Shade

It would be all too easy to include a vibrant blue-lined pool in a
desert setting, for its harsh outline instantly adds a human
dimension to this vast, uncompromising landscape. This plunge
pool in the Sonoran desert, Arizona, designed by Mary-Rose
Duffield, avoids such a stark contrast, and brings a feeling of the
desert beyond to a garden terrace.
An easy way to achieve shade in dryland areas is
to smother an overhead structure, such as a pergola,
with climbing plants. Some plants will naturally
climb or cling to walls and vertical structures;
others will need to be tied up frequently. Most
are very rampant and will need regular pruning.

Dryland Climbing Plants

Plant Mature Minimum

Name Height Temperature

Jasminum mesnyi I0ft/3m 23°F/-5°C

Jasminum azoricum I3ft/4m 28°F/-2°C
Hoya cornosa I3ft/4m 27°F/-3°C
Plumbago capensis 13ft/4m 25°F/-4°C
Solanum jasminoides I6ft/5m 25°F/-4°C
Mandevilla suaveolens 20ft/6m I9°F/-7°C
Senecio mikanioides 20ft/6m 23°F/-5°C
Tecoma capensis 20ft/6m !7°F/-8°C
Campsis radicans 23ft/7m I7°F/-8°C
Passiflora x alatocaerulea 26ft/8m 2I°F/-6°C
Thunbergia grandiflora 26ft/8m 32°F/0°C
Beaumontia grandiflora 33ft/10m 28°F/-2°C
Ficus pumila 33ft/ 10m 25°F/-4°C
Podranea ricasoliana 33ft/10m 25°F/-4°C
Terrace plunge pool Jasminum officinale affine 33ft/10m I7°F/-8°C
Echoing the stark landscape beyond, the pool has a strong, geometric shape and a Distictis buccinatoria 40ft/ 12m 25°F/-4°C
cast concrete edging. The addition of boulders of local rock around the edge of the Macfadyena unguis-cati 40ft/12m 16°F/-9°C
pool brings the beauty of the desert to a domestic setting.
140 Natural Gardening

Mediterranean
Gardens
he Mediterranean regions of the world are broadly
distinguished by lengthy, scorching summers and long
autumns with short winters and springs. The evergreen,
drought-resistant plants found in these areas are ideally suited to
these conditions. They tend to be shrubby, with small, textured
leaves to reduce transpiration, and in the Mediterranean itself
give rise to a terrain known as macchia, or maquis, turning to
scrubland known as garrique where the soil is very poor. In
California, this type of habitat is called chaparral, and in southern
and southwest Australia it is dubbed heathland or bush. Central
Chile has its matorral, and the Cape of South Africa its fynbos. Parts
of New Zealand, southwest England, extreme southern Ireland,
and areas of Baja California, all with highly distinctive landscapes,
also enjoy a Mediterranean climate to varying degrees.

A sun-baked landscape
Olive groves stride across a hot landscape in Andalusia (above). In this French garden (right) olives
grow in a sea of lavender, with Spanish broom (Spartium junceum) behind.
 141

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42 Natural Gardening

The Arid Gardener

f well planned, a Mediterranean garden provides year-round
cover and interest. When it comes to planting in general,
there’s a tendency for the new gardener to the region to think no
further than bougainvillea! But there is a huge range of attractive
native plants to choose from that thrive in drought conditions,
and these should be your first choice. However, potential problem
areas — the sun, the wind, and soil erosion — must be addressed.
Plants do better in semishade, so trees that filter out the sun are
useful. They also help to retain moisture in the soil and prevent
soil erosion. For windbreaks, rounded shrubs with small, leathery
leaves, planted en masse, are ideal. Lawns have no place here —
paved and gravel areas, echoing the natural terrain, are preferable,
spot planted with ground-hugging plants for softness and color.

In the wild, right After nature, below

Olive trees are found Old olive trees give
growing wild in rocky character to this
coastal areas of the Majorcan garden. The
Mediterranean; groves yellow daisy in the
oj the cultivated trees foreground is a form
are a common sight in of Euryops species
many regions. with gray foliage.
 43

Mediterranean Gardens
General Conditions

Climate_
Seasons: Hot, dry summers, long autumns,
short springs and winters. Most rainfall is
in the cooler part of the year The amount
of rainfall, and the severity of temperatures
in summer and winter vary depending on
altitude and proximity to the sea,
Wind: Hot, dry winds off neighboring arid
zones, and windburn off the sea, are a
common climatic feature of these regions.
Fire risk: Fire is a natural hazard in these
areas. However it is also a necessary part
of the ecocycle of some plants.

Soil_
Pebbly grit and rocks, with plants
scattered among them, are typical. Soil
erosion is a serious problem where native
trees and shrubs have been uprooted and
replaced by unsuitable material.

T ERRAIN_
Arid, sometimes mountainous, regions,
generally located on the southern or
western edges of major land masses.

Traditional terraced grove

Beyond the boundary, above

Vegetation in the Mediterranean climate of
South Africa is known asfynbos; it includes
species of Protea, Ursinia, and Lachenalia.

Carpet of daisies, left

A mass of daisylike Gazania species grow in
association with several species of Watsonia in
this naturalfynbos garden in South Africa.
144 Natural Gardening

High Up in the Hills

Perched high in the Luberon hills of southern France is a natural A hilltop location
The garden is located
garden par excellence, created by the late Nicole deVesian.The key
on the lower terraces
elements — clipped mounds of lavender, pencil-thin spires of of a typical village
in the Luberon hills
cypresses, stone decorative features — take their inspiration from,
of Provence. It is a
and pay homage to, the surrounding landscape of rolling hills, very exposed site

native scrubland, and rocky terrain. The garden deliberately and vulnerable to
rain and wind.
emphasizes the shapes and textures of this tough region, and the
result is surprisingly modern while remaining true to its location.
Much of what we find here is both decorative and functional. Bushy
herbs such as sage, thyme, rosemary, savory, and lavender cotton
are planted close together to provide a wonderful array of greens
and grays; planted like this, they also conserve precious moisture.
Clipping enables the gardener to explore a range of interesting
shapes; but this is also Mistral country, and keeping the plants
tight prevents the strong winds from tearing them apart.

Design Inspiration
One of the distinctive features of in fact wonderfully echo both the
this garden is the rows of neatly worked landscapes of Provence
clipped lavender situated on the (left) and the rolling hills that

lower terrace. Although these surround the garden on all sides.

perfectly formed spheres may not They are therefore entirely
instantly read as natural, they do appropriate to their location.

Basic shapes
A useful way to abstract basic design shapes from the
landscape is to take a photograph of a typical rural
scene and enlarge it using a photocopier. Place a piece
of tracing paper on top of the enlargement, then take
a pencil and draw in the key lines and forms.

Geometric forms
These same shapes can then be
reinterpreted in the garden.
Here, the decorative potential
of a traditional crop of
lavender is fully expressed.
 145

Mediterranean
Terrace garden, left
An old Jig tree provides welcome
shade Jrom the midday sun on
the top terrace.

Lavender beds, below

Lines of lavender play on the
graphic qualities found in the
commercial cultivation of the herb.

Gardens
46 Natural Gardening

Plan Analysis
The garden consists of rour terraces carved out
of the rock (see pp. 144—145). These are shored
up by numerous dry-stone walls covered in ivy,
and each level is joined by a series of steps. Areas
not covered by plants are paved with flagstones
or pebbles. The region offers plentiful supplies
of stone, hence the strong emphasis throughout
on hard features. Many of the decorative stone Terrace garden, with seating area ©
The graphic lines and formal clipped shapes of the garden are further
items, for example, have been created from
refined on the top terrace, linking them with the lavender beds below.
discarded pieces found in nearby fields. Using
mainly indigenous evergreen plants clipped into
spheres, cubes, and columns, and working with
a limited palette, ensures that the garden is as
striking in winter as it is in summer.

Garden Profile

Origins_ by a short, cold winter; snow is usual.

Location: Provence, France
Area: Just over A acre (0.2 hectare)
History: When the late owner took over ten
years ago, the garden had suffered from
neglect and was overgrown and unkempt.
Site Characteristics_
Soil type: Very poor, shallow soil, with solid
rock often only 8in (20cm) down.
Climate: Spring bright and cool, summer dry
and hot, with average temperatures of
77°F (25°C). Heavy rains in late fall, followed
Beds of clipped lavender, lower terrace
Prevailing winds are northeasterly.
Orientation: The property sits in an
exposed, windy location on a steeply
sloping incline facing south-southwest.
Selected Plant List
8allota pseudodictamnus, Buxus spp.,
Cupressus spp., Ficus spp., Genista spp.,
Lavandula spp., Lotus hirsutus, Rosmarinus
spp., Salvia spp., Santolina chamaecyparissus,
Satureja spp., Senecio cineraria, Teucrium
fruticans, Thymus spp., Viburnum tinus.
 147

Mediterranean
Informal herb beds, terrace garden © Scenic view from terrace garden ®
Massed plantings of shrubby santolina and lavender carpet the upper Because of its raised position, the garden boasts many fine views of the

Gardens
terrace garden, providing excellent living groundcover in lieu of a lawn. surrounding countryside. A small millstone sits next to yuccas in flower.

Stone pool in pool garden © Walkway, pool garden ©

The south-facing wall next to the pool is home to a tender quince. Strong, sculptural shapes, including clipped shrubs, hedges, and trees,
A water feature in this mainly dry landscape is particularly welcome. create a boldly abstract composition in harmony with the surroundings.
148 Natural Gardening

A Mediterranean Design
Most OF US have a mental image of a typical Mediterranean

garden design with terra-cotta, cypress trees, and grapevines, but

there are more Mediterranean regions of the world than those ?!
that border the Mediterranean Sea. This term is used to describe
a type of semiarid landscape characterized by herby, small-leaved,
grayish-green vegetation. For this garden, I thought that it would
be interesting to relate to a similar climate — perhaps in Australia,
in New South Wales, using a design inspired by the art of the
Aboriginals, the First Australians. The main feature of this garden
is a snake (a motif seen in many Aboriginal paintings) made of
wood or concrete. The snake weaves its way through the mottled
stems of established eucalyptus trees to a seating bay, with its tail
finishing in a circular pool near the house. Where the foliage
canopy of the eucalyptus is dense little will grow, for the ground
carpet is of their shed bark, which creates a natural mulch. In
lighter places, small-leaved native plants are mixed with tussock
grass (Poa habillardieri) and morning flag (Orthrosanthus multijlorus)

Cultural Influences
Like the Native Americans, the
Aboriginals lived very close to the
land, and many still do. Its colors and
rhythms, its fauna and flora, all form
part of this culture’s art, going back
thousands of years. As a foreigner,
outside of the country’s political
history, I find Aboriginal art, and
modern Australian painting in
general, extremely stimulating and in
sharp contrast with the heritage of
nineteenth-century colonialism.

Vernacular tin-rotted house, New South Wales

 149

Mediterranean
Natural Influences
I think that the colors, images, and sounds of Australia
are amazing — with red soils, gray plants, brilliant
screaming parakeets overhead, and the strange call of the
kookaburra. All of these have left me with the lasting
impression of an immensely rich and varied landscape.

Gardens
A koala bear

A John Brookes Plan

My plan is of a fantasy garden, overlooked from the
tin-roofed veranda. It is a gray garden, with small-
^jleaved native shrubs and a eucalyptus canopy. A
magnificent snake winds its way through the natural
bark mulch and pebbly earth, and around a table.

Sandy_
ground
Native
shrubs
"Snake" seat

Table

Pebbles
and
Eucalyptus boulders
trees

Pool Native
grasses

Tin roof
150 Natural Gardening

Mediterranean Garden Care

The KEY TO creating a thriving Mediterranean
garden is planning for low rainfall, soil erosion,
and strong, drying winds, then selecting plants
with this in mind. In these locations, many sites
are not flat; learn from established regional
farming techniques — such as incorporating
terraces as part of the design to help reduce soil
erosion. If well planned, Mediterranean-type
gardens provide year-round interest, and
remarkably carefree gardens result. Where the
soil is poor and dry, including organic matter
helps condition it and improve its water-holding
capacity. Depending on where you live, creating
a fire-retardant garden may also be a factor.
Although bush fires in Mediterranean regions
are part of the life cycle of plant regeneration,
producing regular annual patterns of growth
and decline, they can also destroy homes.

Effective Watering Planting and

Watering Grow shallow-rooted
Although winter rains are plants such as
succulents in thin soil
adequate for most Mediterranean
Roots benefit
plants, some do need extra water
from cool, damp
Watering through
in summer. Try to group plants soil under rocks
rocks or stones
according; to their needs to reduce stops soil from
compacting
water usage, and mulch the soil to
conserve water. Grass is not a
native surface cover in this climate,
so consider pebbles, rocks, and
paving instead of a thirsty lawn,
softened by masses of ground-
hugging plants and bulbs. Water in
the evening so that the plants have
time to absorb the water from the
soil before much of it evaporates
in the heat of the day.

Reducing Fire Risk

To prevent bush fires from destroying homes in Fire-retardant Plants

Mediterranean areas, selected fire-retardant plant Trees and Shrubs_

material is planted in bands to surround structures, Callistemon viminalis

Ceratonia siliqua
particularly in hilly areas. Within this band (about
Cistus spp.
50ft/ 15m wide), medium-sized shrubs should not be Photina arbutifolia
used beneath trees as they tend to create a “fire-
Climbers_
ladder.” In addition, remove the lower limbs of trees,
Campsis radicans
which can also act in this way. Do not plant large or Solarium jasminoides
flammable trees — for example cypress, eucalyptus, Tecoma capensis

juniper, or pine — close to buildings in case they catch

Fire horror Groundcover_
fire. Dry grass should be mown, and heavy tree litter Though it is a natural phenomenon, the Achillea tomentosa
removed from near the house and beneath shrubs. spread of a bush fire is frightening. Gazania spp.
 15

Mediterranean
Hillside Steps and Terraces
Mediterranean Steps
Terracing the land into
These steps, made of volcanic rock from the local
broad steps has been part
region, have a simple style and grace, with built-in
of Mediterranean land
seating and plants fully integrated into their design.
management since ancient
In fact, they were built by the gardener, who simply
times. Depending on their
followed his feeling for the land rather than
location, they are planted
working to any particular plan.
with groves of olive, fruit,
or nut trees, often against Set in stone
a backdrop of cypress The same type of
rock has been used
trees, giving the region its
to make steps,
characteristic flavor. retaining walls,

Gardens
and seating,

When mulching
creating an overall
Mulching trees, lay the design that looks
Plants mulch under the very much of
tree to the
its locale.
drip line.

Mulch
preserves Plan of Steps with Seating
Mulch can include moisture and
organic matter; cuttings favorable soil
from the garden, conditions.
stones, and gravel

Limiting Soil Erosion stabilizing the soil

Along with screening the garden Rain water
is held by
from wind, providing shade, and vegetation
mulching heavily to reduce
dehydration, stabilizing the soil is
vital. On slopes, deep-rooted
plants such as oleander and the
Pegged jute
carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) (75mm) netting detail
pegs
combined with groundcovers
stabilize the soil; alternatively, Pegged jute
netting
plant through pegged jute netting.
Use local tough evergreens en Bottom layer
of broken
masse for wind shelter, and native Middle layer of rock acts
organic materials as water
trees to cast light shade and so
Exposed and minerals reservoir
reduce evaporation from the soil. bedrock high in organic matter
52 Natural Gardening

Tropical
Gardens
HE world’s tropical regions include

parts of northern and eastern Australia,

southern India, Southeast Asia, southern
China, Madagascar, much of the African continent,
Hawaii, and from southern Mexico to Brazil.
Bordering these lands are the subtropics, which
encompass Florida in the United States, central
South America, and parts of northern Australia.
Although many of these areas have a hot and
humid climate, with lush, fast-growing vegetation,
this is not necessarily always the case — and rainfall
and temperatures vary widely depending on
altitude and terrain. Interestingly, in many hot-
weather countries the idea of having a garden at
all is a relatively recent European import; it is
not surprising, therefore, that subtropical and
tropical garden designs have tended to evolve
along the traditional theme of “taming nature.”

Gardens of rice
Terraced rice paddy fields (above) are characteristic of many tropical and
subtropical regions. Watercourses within a Thai garden (right) pick up
this architectural theme. Typical steep roof lines complete the picture.
153

Tropical Gardens
154 Natural Gardening

The Exotic Gardener

n the tropics and subtropics, the indigenous plant population is
typically lush. Water is plentiful in these regions, and the hot,
humid climate encourages an extraordinary rate of growth. As a
tropical gardener you also have the advantage of an enviable choice
of plant material with which to work. This includes epiphytes
such as bromeliads (members of the pineapple family), which live
on other plants; rampant vines and creepers (this is the true home
of bougainvillea); exotic and scented flowering shrubs, such as
hibiscus and frangipani; and a vast range of flowering trees.
However, the heavy rainfall can also present the gardener with a
problem, quickly turning an unattended area into swampland and
attracting wildlife that may not be desirable in a domestic setting,
so good drainage is a priority of basic tropical garden design.

Abundant growth, above

Exaggerated leaffforms are a
dominant Jeature of tropical
regions; in this lushly planted
Singapore garden, they have
been combined to striking effect.

Tropical rainforest, left

The climatic conditions in the
tropics and subtropics rapidly
produce extremely dense growth,
offering the gardener quick results.
 155

Tropical
Gardens
Subtropical hammock, above
On areas oj drier, raised land, or hammocks,
evergreen hardwood trees grow with various
other forms of vegetation in Florida.

Subtropical garden, left

Monstera deliciosa clambers up a garden tree
in Florida in its quest to reach the sunlight.

General Conditions

Climate
Tropics: Temperatures are high throughout
the year; and rainfall is frequent and heavy,
Plants grow at an enormous rate in this
sultry climate, and their growth pattern is
mostly vertical. In the rainforest, the foliage
of tall trees creates a thick canopy, and
many plants must climb in order to gain
access to sunlight The diversity of species
in this unique environment is more
varied than anywhere else on earth.
SuBtROPics: These are the regions that
border tropical areas.The climate is
generally more clement, with hot, drier
summers and mild, wet winters. Like
tropical zones, these areas are
characterized by luxuriant growth, with
bright foliage and colorful flowers.

Soil
In tropical and subtropical regions, the
soil is generally thin and sandy; nutrients
released into the soil are quickly taken up
and stored by plants.

Gloriosa sp. brightens a tropical border.

156 Natural Gardening

Planting a Paradise
In Hawaii, avery unpromising site has been transformed into an
exotic haven. When May Moir and her late husband inherited a
featureless garden with open lawn, they decided to enclose it with
walls to form a series of characterful private courts. Owing to the
climate, plants grow rapidly in these islands, and rather than
trying to impose restraint on natural profusion, the Moirs opted
for a native style. One area (initially planted with orchids, until
insects caused problems) now has bromeliads and ginger.
Phalaenopsis orchids and lotus begonias fill a conservatory, and a Front garden ©
i n •, 1 1 • i i r ti l In this area, bromeliads with strikina forms and
moss garden overnows with white gardenias and lerns. lhe house , . , , ,, V, ,
o o Jonage m glowing colors hold sway, lhese have
is appropriately called “Lipolani,” meaning “tropical heaven.” been chosen to provide a succession of bloom.

Entrance to
the garden ©
Anyone entering
the garden is greeted
by a profusion of
plants. A brilliant
wave of tillandsias
(Tillandsia cyanea)
spills onto the
entrance steps, lining
the way up to the
house. By the wall, a
simple stone bench
provides a place to
relax and a viewpoint l/V

from which to enjoy j|||ip

the garden’s beauty.

Garden Profile

Origins Orientation: The side garden faces

Location: Nuuanu valley, Honolulu, Hawaii. northeast into the prevailing trade winds.
Area: 14,000sq ft (1,300sq m).
History: Gradually landscaped and planted Selected Plant List
from the 1950s by May and Goodale Moir Bromeliads: Aechmea mulfordii, Guzmania
spp., Tillandsia cyanea.
Site Characteristics Orchids: Phalaenopsis spp., Spathoglottis spp.

Soil type: Add and sticky. f, i , Jt"' li Ferns: Asplenium nidus. Platycerium
Polypodium spp.
spp.,

Climate: Subtropical, with very high annual

rainfall: I00-I20in (2,500-3,000mm). Other plants: Carissa grandiflora, Cordyline
Temperatures range from 58° to 90°F (14° spp., Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, Gardenia
to 33°C). Prevailing winds from the fortunei, Heliconia spp., Medinilla magnified,
northeast, hurricanes southwest, An exotic pink lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) Nelumbo nucifera, Strelitzia nicolai.
 157

Tropical
Gardens
Front Paved area ©
gate The paved courtyard to the rear oj the
house is covered with moss; the effect is
that of a cool green room. There are
ferns, blue ginger (Dichorisandra
thyrsiflora), Spathoglottis
orchids, and white gardenias
(Gardenia fortunei).

0 4 m
I-1-1
ewaI k 17ft

Borrowed landscape © Tropical tree fern ©

The side garden is contained by what May calls a “puka-puka"wall (taken from the Hawaiian The arching fronds of a Tasmanian tree fern are seen
word for hole), which filters the trade winds but permits the air circulation that most against the extraordinary powder-puff blooms oj
bromeliads need. The wall is relatively low, allowing sweeping views of the Koolau mountains. Calliandra haematocephala.
158 Natural Gardening

A Tropical Design
Heat AND humidity epitomize the ambience of the tropical garden,

with lush, rampant growth and strong colors andTorms. In many

parts of the Far East, the decorative tropical garden was a concept
introduced by homesick Europeans who had been transplanted to
an area where a garden was merely a clearing in the jungle in
which to grow essentials such as vegetables and grain.
Consequently, the garden I have designed is an
amalgam of Oriental styles. A central pool with ^
an orchid island is surrounded by a paved
terrace, and brightly coloredThai-style
■7
pavilions beneath swaying palm trees give
shelter from tropical rain. An exotic climber
softens the outlines of a Chinese moon gate,
and the fence is bamboo. It is an exotic location,
heavy with fragrance and overgrown vegetation
and with enormous potential for development.

Cultural Influences
Thailand provided the focus for this
fantasy garden, with bright lacquer
painted structures that rival the
exotic vegetation. In particular, I
had in mind the temples, with their
marvelous roof lines, rich gold
ornamentation, and an abundance
of abstract pattern.

Temple with
gold decor

Colorful parasols

Floating market

Traditional Thai ornamentation

 I 59

Tropical
Natural Inspirations
The watery terraced fields for growing rice in the Far
East provide an organic sculpted surface to the
countryside. These shapes contrast with exotic foliage
forms and a wealth of brilliantly colored flowers.

Gardens
Swaying coconut palms

A John Brookes Plan

The plan has an abstract geometry to it, which
is heavily overlaid with abundant growth.
Jungle planting calls for strong design control,
for growth is extraordinarily rapid in these
regions and quickly takes over.

Hibiscus hedget |<jng palms . Tea houses

I King
palms
Hibiscus
hedge with
bamboo
fence behind

Orchid island
Natural Gardening

Tropical Planting
A GARDEN PLAN should take account of the rapid
and luxuriant growth typical of tropical regions
if the gardener is not to engage in a constant
struggle to keep the vegetation under control.
The clipped lawn, ubiquitous in temperate areas,
does not adapt well to this climate, requiring a
high level of maintenance. Native groundcover
is much to be preferred in these conditions.
Plants for elsewhere in the tropical or subtropical
garden come in many wonderful shapes and
guises, but orchids must get a special mention.
Subtropical grove
In addition to their great beauty, many also have
In subtropical and tropical areas, where soil quality is typically poor,
a delightful fragrance. there is a greater reliance on trees and groundcover plantsJor stability.

Lawn Alternatives
Although most grass substitutes
can’t be walked upon, they
provide a comparable (or better)
visual effect. In addition, using
better-adapted plants is far more
ecologically friendly. They need
little looking after, discourage
weeds, and prevent soil erosion
during the frequent heavy rains.
For sunny areas consider species
of Alternanthera, Lantana, and
Rhoeo, and for shady places species
of Zebrina, Episcia, and Scindapsus.

A Sandy Habitat
The appearance and growth habit of
groundcover plants native to the tropics
and subtropics will vary widely depending
on where you live. Observe them in the
wild, and then translate these into a garden
setting. Here, various salt-tolerant coastal
plants from the subtropical regions of
North America are placed in a plant
association that could work well in a sandy
garden close to the ocean.
 I 6

Tropical
Cultivating Orchids Climates for Orchids
As with other plants, the original habitat of
orchids provides clues to their cultivation Preferred T emperatures
Cool
in the garden. Account must be taken
50°F-70°F (I0°C-2I°C)
especially of temperature and humidity Cymbidium spp.
levels. Epiphytic orchids lodge themselves Odontoglossum spp.
Paphiopedilum spp. (some)
in trees, which they use for support only,
gaining nutrients from organic debris at Intermediate

Gardens
Cattleya
55°F-70°F (I3“C-2I°C)
their roots — whatever is washed in by bowringiana
Cattleya spp.
rain or dropped by birds. Those that This evergreen
Dendrobium spp.
epiphytic orchid
grow in the soil are called terrestrial Oncidium spp. (some)
with its large,
orchids. Most terrestrials need water Paphiopedilum spp. (hybrids)
showyJlowers hails
throughout the year, while most epiphytes from Central and Warm

must be kept dry during part of their growth South America; it 60°F-85°F (I6°C-29°C)

is often found Paphiopedilum spp. (tropical)

cycle. You can introduce epiphytes into the
growing along Phalaenopsis spp.
garden by attaching their roots to moss- mountain streams. Vanda spp.
Orchid and bark covered bark using clear nylon thread.

Bamboo Boundaries
A Damp Habitat
These woody-caned, perennial grasses are found in many tropical and
The hot, wet conditions typical of tropical
and subtropical regions mean that subtropical forests and woodlands. In the garden, they are useful as hedging
groundcover is quickly established in the or as a windbreak. Choose from species of Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, and
garden, but this can be a mixed blessing,
Semiarundinaria. Species of Phyllostachys make a particularly elegant screen.
since some plants can soon get out of
As the supply of bamboo is abundant, it makes a handy building material
control and spread everywhere unless held
in check. Again, observing growth habits in and is often used for furniture and decorative garden fencing.
the wild can give you planting ideas for the
garden. For example, in damp, deep
wooded areas in the United States, natives
such as Mitchella repens and Nephrolepis
exaltata thrive in the moist, shady
conditions.This association might also work
well in a subtropical woodland garden.

Nephrolepis exaltata

Living bamboo screen Bamboo poles split and tied to verticals

I 62 Natural Gardening

City
Gardens
HE IDEA OF natural gardening in a city
might seem like a contradiction in terms.
Yet towns and cities have strong regional
flavors that can be reflected in gardens — it isn’t
hard to deduce whether you are in New York or
Newcastle. Don’t forget that even under paving
there is soil; it may be poor, but it is there, a natural
foundation beneath the artificial. Architectural
clues, such as the period and style of the building,
its materials, and type of paving, all mark local
identity and are useful reference points for the
urban gardener — brick might dominate in some
areas, for example, granite or limestone in others.
You may need to research your region before
planning planting. In temperate areas, you don’t
have to re-create forest — there was also always an
under story of shrubs, ferns, and grasses, which
combine well with other perennials and bulbs.

Inspiration from the wild

Gravel has been substitutedfor lawn in a walled English garden (above),
with plants growing in a wild way through it. A London roof garden
(right) by Dan Pearson is exuberantly planted, all in containers.
 £8
M
 I 65

City
The Urban Gardener
garden in town inevitably serves as an outside room, so
consider using color on boundary walls if you have them;

Gardens
hues that reflect the shades of local materials, such as clay, stone,
or slate, may work best, particularly if they match the house. In
hot climates, adobe or terra-cotta may be used, less blinding than
harsh white. Paving need not necessarily be of natural materials —
concrete can look fine — but it must relate to its surroundings;
soften the look with continuous planting between all the joints.
The actual plant choice may vary enormously, according to region
and site, but include some of the local flora. If you have a lawn,
you could introduce wildflowers, even perennials, into it, or
replace it with an alternative such as moss or creeping thymes.
If you prefer a hard surface, add clumps of herbs for interest.

Growing natives, left A blended boundary, above Avant-garde solution, above Forest planting, top
This Cape Town garden has native The boundary is softened by An architectural approach in a The planting in this subtropical
plants such as Duchesnea indica, climbers and a sumac (Rhus New Zealand garden uses cycads garden in northern Australia
Protea and Veltheimia species. typhina) in an English garden. and a geometric lawn of thyme. echoes that of native rainforest.

General Conditions

rain, due to trees and walls.

Climate_
Temperature: City gardens are
usually warmer and more sheltered
than rural areas. In many regions,
gardens may be frost-free all year
Shade: Large, overhanging trees
and adjacent buildings may cast
dense shade.
Wind and rain: City gardens may a wall is often very dry, due to the
be sheltered from wind and also
Rooftop terraces are generally
very exposed to all the elements.
Soil_
Soil is often poor - stony, low in
fertility, and compacted - and
should be improved with organic
matter The ground at the foot of
effect of'rain shadow."
Exuberant colors in San Francisco
Other Factors
Pollution: In some areas, pollution
may affect both air and soil, so
choose pollution-tolerant plants.
Noise: Traffic and street noise are
often a part of urban life.Thick
planting can screen out some
noise and provides a psychological
barrier A fountain or water spout
can add a masking distraction.
66 Natural Gardening

A Calm Retreat
The wilder APPROACH is harder to achieve in a city garden, for the
proximity of neighbors and fencing tends to impede the required
effect, and the surroundings may offer little inspiration. But this
wonderful garden in Washington, DC, has done it — with a
controlled disarray that must surely soothe the mind far better
than the mini-Versailles look so frequently found in traditional
gardens. The designers, Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden,
created a dry stream bed that gently flows through the garden,
culminating in a dry “pool” at each end. In midsummer, rivulets of
yellow Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ emphasize the sinuous form of the
“stream.” A millstone fountain adds sound and movement. The dry
stream, the restrained use of water, and the quiet rooms inviting
you to pause all contribute to an air of quiet restfulness.

Millstone
fountain -

Millstone fountain ©
Water from the pink granite fountain at the which the water recirculates is hidden under a
center of the garden bubbles up like a natural layer of stones supported by a steel grate on
spring. To create this effect, the reservoirfrom which the millstone fountain sits.

10 ft
 167

Splash of color ©

City
A fiery Exbury azalea,
picked up by a pot-
grown species of
Clivia, adds a vibrant

Gardens
edge to the cool green
foliage. Several pots
near the terrace are
filled with Lantana
species during the
summer months.

A curving
pathway ®
From the garden door,
a dry stream bed of
fagstones set into
pea gravel draws the
eye to a gently sinuous
line leading down
the garden.

Garden Profile

Origins_ Orientation: This north-facing garden is

Location: Georgetown, a section of partially shaded but includes sunny spots,
Washington, DC.
Area: 860sq ft (80sq m) Selected Plant List_
History: The design of the garden was Trees and shrubs: Fargesia nitida, Lagerstroemia
started in 1991 and completed in 1992. indica ‘Natchez’, Mahonia japonica 'Bealei1.
Perennials: Acanthus hungaricus, Anemone
Site Characteristics_ japonica ‘Pamina’, Carex pendula, Coreopsis
Soil type: A rich loam that typically occurs in ‘Moonbeam’, Geranium macrorrhizum, Hosta
the Georgetown area. ‘Honeybells’, Iris sibirica 'Snowcrest', Liriope
Climate: Cold winters and hot, dry summers; muscari ‘Big Blue', Mazus reptans ‘Abus',
this garden enjoys slightly milder conditions' Miscanthus floridulus, Pennisetum
because of its proximity to the Potomac river. Mazus reptans ‘Albus’fows between the stones. alopecuroides, Perovskia atriplidfolia.
68 Natural Gardening

Savanna in the City

One OF THE BIGGEST objections to an urban natural garden is that Front garden, right
This area gets the sun
it looks untidy. This was the problem that garden designer Colston
all day long, perfect
“Cole” Burrell faced when he planned his ecologically sound city for a "prairie"garden.
Plants include little
garden in Minneapolis. He wanted to create something that
bluestem grass, asters,
echoed the native feel of the area where woodlands, oak savannas, and goldenrods, with

and prairie meet, but that was not a wild garden. Cole spent a tall Joe Pye weed,
Rudbeckia ‘Autumn
year observing the garden first before finalizing the layout. He Sun’, and Silphium
decided to work to a formal plan, using the shaded oak savanna perfoliatum, often
known as cup plant.
grove as his main source of inspiration for the planting, and
introducing lush borders reminiscent of the luxuriant growth of the
prairie.The huge prairie plants, some of them 6-10ft (2-3m) tall by
late summer, are not traditional, so to placate his neighbors, Cole
has used grass to edge the street and front walk. “It is this
conventional feature,” he says, “not the exuberant array of plants,
that reassures them that I am caring for the garden.”

A Bog Garden
An artificial bog was made next to
the house to receive runoff water
from the roof by digging a trench
8ft x 25ft and 2ft deep (2.5m x
8m x 60cm).This was lined with
strong plastic sheeting, and filled
with a mix of compost and soil.
It seldom needs additional water
and, relying on runoff water
alone, the bog can host a wide
range of moisture-loving plants.

Artificial bog
A number of drainage
holes were made
around the edge of
the plastic sheeting
about 12in (30cm)
below the soil surface
to prevent the crowns
of the plants from
rotting. The bog
includes Astilbe
‘Ostrich Plume’,
Rodger sia, yellow
Ligularia ‘Zepter’,
and irises.
 169

Shaded terrace, left

City
Part of the shade garden includes
meadow rue (Thalictrum spp.),
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum
hirtum), and several types of

Gardens
Geranium, dominated by a box
elder (Acer negundo) and
Magnolia stellata.

Container garden, below

The pot terrace includes wild
Dicentra species, ferns, and hostas,
with agapanthus, amaryllis,
ginger, Cymbidium orchids, and
Streptocarpus species in pots.
70 Natural Gardening

Plan Analysis
The INTERPLAY of the sun-filled clearing at the front of the site
and the shaded “grove” formed by a multistemmed box elder at
the side of the house reminded Cole of the savanna (see pp. 168—
169). Overlying this, the cultural inspiration for the garden grew
out of Cole’s image of a Midwestern farmstead — brought to mind
by the courtyard area formed by the driveway in front of the
garage at the center of the plot. The garden moves from open
“prairie” surrounding a small lawn to a terrace bordered by a Informal division ©
A Spiraea sp. hedge screens the nursery beds
shade area and a pond feature. The rear half of the garden includes beyond this shady border, which includes plants
a woodland garden, a vegetable plot, and nursery beds. such as astilbes, hostas, and epimediums.

Origins_ Selected Plant List_

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota. Shade: Actaea spp„ Adiantum pedatum, Aralia
Area: 9,000sq ft (860sq m). racemosa, Asarum canadense, Cimicifuga spp.,

History: The garden was started in 1991. Claytonia virginica, Dicentra eximia, Dryopteris
spp., Geranium maculatum, Helleborus spp., Iris
Site Characteristics_ cristata, Mertensia virginica, Polygonatum spp.,

Soil type: The pH is 6.8. Silty loam to pure,
fine sand in places, which dries out quickly.
Climate: In winter it may drop to -34°F
(-37°C) with up to five months of snow
cover Annual rainfall is 27in (680mm) but can
be summer drought. Constant winds,
Orientation: Mainly north-facing (i.e. shady).
Smilacina stellata, Viola canadensis.
Prairie: Allium stellatum.Andropogon gerardii,
Aquiiegia canadensis, Aster spp., Coreopsis
palmata, Echinacea angustifolia, Eryngium spp.,
Filipendula rubra, Geum triflorum, Heuchera
richardsonii, Panicum virgatum, Penstemon
The feathery goat’s beard, Aruncus dioicus gracilis, Phlox pilosa, Solidago spp. Verbena spp.
 171

Rear shade garden,

City Gardens
far left ®
Ferns, irises,
pulmonarias, and
epimediums Jlourish
in the shade garden.

Border; left ©
The planting between
the terrace and the
driveway includes
cimicifugas, ‘Purple
Cloud’ meadow rue,
Lysimachia ciliata,
and Geranium
psilostemon.

Sh/a&ie garden

Prairie
Bog garden s' av a nsn a-
garden

Lawn

Terrace shade garde

4 m

17 ft

Pondside borden
far left ©
This includes alliums
with their seedheads
left on, hostas, blue
oat grass, baptisias,
and lambs’ ears.

Formal pond, left ©

The structured pond
with its bridge of
paving stones provides
a strong shape to give
backbone to the
abundant planting.
72 Natural Gardening

Reflections of Nature
I LIKE TO THINK that natural planting can overlay a Modernist
design, and might expect to see this in the more progressive work
on the west coast of the United States. But 1 was surprised to
discover it in a small layout for a city garden at an English flower
show — and it looks stunning. Garden designer Bonita Bulaitis has
molded the space to flow between textured cast walls, opening
out into a wilder space beyond, with such striking effects as a
painted glass partition and a window with “rods” of water. A series
of mirror-lined water channels sparkle in the sunlight; these are
punctuated by intriguing circular rain pools, and the whole is Architectural plants ©
The patterns on the painted glass panels echo
softened by planting, with interweaving grasses and perennials.
the forms if the sinuous grasses; these upright
grasses and papyrus also help to soften the hard
lines of the wall.

An outdoor room, above ©

Broad steps lead to a dramatically
placed seating area, raised like a
stage. The textured surface, a resin-
bonded natural stone, offsets the
mirrored pools and spilling plants.

A curtain of water; right ©

Water flows from a hidden tank
down the outside of a series of
acrylic rods, creating an unusual
and fascinating water feature.

Garden Profile
Origins_
Location: London, England,
Area: l,800sq ft (I70sq m).
History: Not applicable as this is a show
garden, but could be established quickly.
Site Characteristics_
Soil type: Slightly alkaline, fairly free-draining,
improved by the addition of organic matter
Climate: Temperate, in a fairly sheltered site.
Orientation: An open site, largely in full sun
for maximum effect from the mirrored pools
and sunlight filtering through colored glass.
M i rro r-1 i n ed
water
channels
73
City
Selected Plant List_
Trees and shrubs: Acer grossed var. hersii,
Amelanchier lamarckii, Euonymus alatus,
Gardens
Fraxinus excelsior 'Jaspidea', Nandirta
domestica, Phormium tenax, Populus tremula.
Perennials: Allium sphaerocephalon, Artemisia
spp., Heuchera spp„ Verbena bonariensis.
Grasses: Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl
Foerster', Carex buchananii, C. testacea,
Deschampsia 'Bronze Veil', Festuca punctoria,
Molinia caerulea 'Windspiel1, Stipa tenuifolla.
Water plants: Cyperus papyrus, Equisetum
Painted glass partition by Susan Bulaitis hyemale.Juncus ensifolius, Scirpus cernuus.
Copper rods
piercing wall
Light and texture ©
Glass prisms hung in the branches of an Acer grosseri
var. hersii draw attention to its unusual bark markings.
Serpentine lines ©
The sinuous curve of the resin-bonded stone steps contrasts
beautifully with a clump of dark red Knautia macedonica.
74 Natural Gardening

A Modernist View
Arriving at this house cut into a Melbourne hillside was very Entrance garden
The designers avoided
exciting — far from being the pseudo-English garden you so often
taking a purist view
see, it was a vindication of Modernism with an overlay of natural when selecting plant
material. If they could
planting. I was relieved to see that it could be done. In response to
not find the right
the surrounding landscape, especially the expansive views out to native plant in terms

the Dandenong Ranges, designers Nicole Faulkner and Gregg of size, form, texture,
or color, they chose
Chapman have created a predominantly native garden under an from introduced
existing canopy of eucalyptus. This is no informal “bush” garden; the plant species.

sweeping stepped terraces and zigzag pool are entirely in keeping

with the bold character of the house. The use of indigenous plant
mm
material is equally inspired, too. Most southeastern Australian
native plants do not have showy flowers individually, but by
massing species together the designers have created large drifts of
interest that are in scale with the overall layout.

Bold Lines and Architectural Effects

The designers wanted to create a
garden that would act as a setting
for this striking house — which is
uncompromisingly Modernist —
and would look like an extension
of its architecture. They used the
sloping site to make a large, formal
terrace and stepped levels in scale
with both the house and the site.
The sharp, angular lines of the
house are echoed in the garden
structure — in the daring zigzag
shapes of the pool and paving, and
in the raised beds. Large drifts of
plants complement the strong
lines without being overshadowed.
 175

City
Main terrace, left
The modular look oj the structure

Gardens
of the house is clearly visible here,
and it is this dimension that has
been used in the terrace design.

Terrace pool, below

Water was included to be cooling,
as well asjor visual impact. Plants
such as Restio tetraphyllus and
Brachyscome multifida break the
hard lines of the design.

'
76 Natural Gardening

Plan Analysis
A SMALL TERRACE with a dining table forms the main entertaining
space outside (see pp. 174—175), which is softened by plants —
a mix of species with flowers for all seasons, mostly white
and pink. Existing trees provide shade and some screening
from neighbors. The terrace leads down to an additional
seating area, then on to a flight of stairs at right angles,
edged by a hedge of Baeckea virgata, leading to the main
terrace and lawn. One of the distinctive features of this garden
is the use of scents to define different areas — the mint bushes by
the front entrance are particularly fragrant after rain; on the
lower lawn, the refreshing scent is of eucalyptus overhead.

Contrast of forms ®
Muehlenbeckia complexa
is clipped to form a hedge,
and provides a background
to eucalyptus trunks and
native wildflowers.

Peaceful resting place ©

A quiet seating area provides the
perfect spot to observe the birdlife
that has returned to the garden,
including bellbirds and rosellas.

Poolside planting ®
Westringia fruticosa ‘Wynyabbie Gem’ topiary
is combined with an underplanting of cascading
Convolvulus mauritanicus.
 77

City
Garden Profile

Origins_
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,
Approximately X acre (0.3 hectare).

Gardens
Area:

History: Started in 199 I, it took just

under a year to complete.

Site Characteristics
Soil type: The site was mostly sticky clay
with compacted builders' rubble after the
house was built. Good soil was brought
in for the raised beds. In other areas,
such as the lawn, topsoil was
incorporated. A thick, organic mulch was
laid in all areas to retain moisture.
Climate: Mediterranean, with hot, dry
summers and cool, wet winters.
Orientation: The garden faces north
(i.e. sunny exposure).

_ 4T i- In'CtH
TT xq L -H * it-H-PHf
Cool white Centranthus ruber ‘Albus’

Selected Plant' List

Terrace plants © Agonis flexuosa, Baeckea virgata,
The upright stems oj Callistemon ‘Reeves Pink1, Choisya ternata,
blue Orthrosanthus Cordyline australis, Eucalyptus botryoides,
multiflorus soften E. cephalocarpa, E. citriodora, E. saligna,
the corners of the E. scoparia, Muehlenbeckia complexa,

pool. Waterlilies Orthrosanthus multiflorus, Pennisetum

alopecuroides, Prostanthera spp,
also provide interest
Thryptomene saxicola, Westringia fruticosa
in season.
'Wynyabbie Gem'.

Side garden ©
The west-facing
outdoor eating area is
fanked by masses of
native and non-native
plants. Doryanthes
palmeri adds height
to a low bed.
78 Natural Gardening

A City Design
My IDEA IN this imaginary garden is to bring the essence of the
Scottish countryside into town, using soft colors, sturdy plants,
and natural materials. The focal point of the simple design is a
central pool to attract birds. The gray stone of the walls reappears
here, tumbled to create a sort of scree, and around the scree is
a gravel surface of the same stone. To further enhance the wild
ambience, tufted sedges (Carex species) are grown in association
with heathers, and there are daisy-flowered perennials to add
interest, starting with yellow doronicum through to asters in late
summer and early autumn. Amid the brick-laid terrace, early
primroses and, later, silver thymes brighten up the surface; clematis
and honeysuckles soften the lines of the walls. The tree is a
flowering hawthorn (Crataegus species) to complete the rural effect.

Cultural NFLUENCES
In an urban location, clues to the

Lilac natural look can come from the

surrounding buildings. The use of
Lawn natural stone and the austere
architecture provide strong links
with the vigorous Scottish landscape
Pond
and the relatively harsh climate.

Rough
scree

Hawthorn

Brick
Planting
area
of thyme
between Ruined stone crojts
stones in moorland

Scottish border
town in a valley

Annuals in pots

A John Brookes Plan

I wanted to create a focal point in this city garden
that also related to the rough scree and the
surrounding walls. My solution was to introduce
a small pond, which I then counterpoised with a
hawthorn. The wide terrace allows for an area of
outside living during the summer months.
Characteristic
pantiled cottage
 179

City
Natural Inspirations
Moorland, wetland, sheep, and heather conjure up
Scotland in the mind’s eye. These are large-scale natural
elements, the trick when creating a garden is to

Gardens
transpose their essence to the domestic scale.

Sweeping Scottish
moorland landscape

Ubiquitous purple
heather in flower

Ever-present sheep and rain

A rugged wetland landscape

80 Natural Gardening

Planting in Pots and Paving

It IS A FALLACY that small garden spaces need
small planting details — better to overscale your
pots and the plants in them, and use larger trees
where practical to provide a ceiling and
effectively encase your outside room. Larger
plots may create their own urban feel, from
desert or Moorish to mysterious jungle, with a
cottage-style rambling look in between.
Consider also using baskets, half barrels, even
pitchers as containers for your plants (but make
sure that water can drain away). Think natural
when selecting annuals for your tubs. Try
grasses, too, and sow packets of wildflowers to
mingle in with your containers.

Planting a Wicker Basket

There are many handsome baskets available, and these them inside and out with clear polyurethane varnish
can be used to create sympathetic containers for the and lining them with plastic or rubber sheeting. Pierce
natural garden. Ensure their longevity by spraying the sheeting with holes for drainage.

I Selecting plants
I Combine plants that enjoy the
same conditions. Here I have
chosen a mix of fescue grasses,
primroses, and dwarf narcissus for
an early spring display.
Lining the basket
Use a sheet of black plastic
to line the basket completely so
that none of it will be in contact
with damp soil mix, which would
cause it to rot prematurely.
3 Ensuring good drainage
Make a number of holes in
the liner to ensure good
drainage, then add a shallow
layer of coarse gravel, spread
evenly out over the base.
4 Planting
Partly fill the basket with
soil mix. Remove the plants from
their pots and plant them, adding
mix around them, so that they
spill over the edges of the basket.

5 The completed basket

When the primroses are finished you can replace them with
Late summer display
For late summer interest, Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ is planted with avena
forget-me-nots (Myosotis spp.), and the narcissus with tulips. grass, early single chrysanthemums, and silver thyme.
 I 8

City
Plants for Containers
Pots for Plots
There is a huge choice of suitable plants for
Just as with plants, it
pots, but as they are growing in an artificial
situation they will need frequent watering — is important to select

Gardens
containers that are in
some need regular feeding, too, during the
sympathy with their
growing season. Daisy-type flowers
(composites) are a good choice, as they do setting. As far as possible,

not look too sophisticated or stiff and so fit in use containers made of

well with the natural look; many tolerate dry local, natural materials,

conditions and coastal sites, and will not need such as wood, terra-cotta,

constant watering. In temperate areas, you and stone, that will

can often grow Mediterranean flowers as well, complement other

but bring them under cover for winter. materials in the garden.

A Choice of Daisies

Temperate Mediterranean

Anthemis tinctoria Arctotis spp.

Aster spp.
Chrysanthemum spp.
Coreopsis maritima
Coreopsis tinctoria
Doronicum spp.
Helenium autumnale
Layia platyglossa
Leucanthemum maximum
Argyranthemum spp.
8rachyscome spp.
Dimorphotheca spp
Euryops spp.
Eriocephalus spp.
Erigeron spp.
Felicia spp. Rustic wooden half-barrel Traditional terra-cotta
Helenium spp. This cottage-style container is Housed in bold terra-cotta pots, prickly pear

Leucanthemum vuigare Helichrysum spp. filled with primroses, anemones, (Opuntia species) and Cereus cactus

Rudbeckia hirta Helipterum spp. and spent Muscari leaves. furnish a terraced desert city garden.

Planting in Paving
In many gardens, there will be situations that require
large areas of uninterrupted paving — for example, for
entertaining. But too large an unrelieved expanse can
look bleak in winter and be blinding in summer. Think
about breaking up the surface area by introducing other
hard materials to vary the texture, and further fracturing
the even surface by including whatever plant material is
suitable and practical for the situation.

The Random Approach The Cottage Update The Softer Formal Design

Clumps of sedge Iris sibirica or Pacific

Wilder plantings look best with a random The naturalistic, unkempt look is not suitable
paving, possibly with rocks and drifts of self- traditional cottage-garden styles and methods, for an Islamic-infuencedformal garden, but
seeded material, even between the paving joints, using various types of hard surface with a strips of greenery such as dwarf hedges of boxwood
punctuated by irises, grasses, or sedges. limited, informal use of plant material. or lavender can relieve large-scale regularity.
82 Natural Gardening

Encouraging Wildlife
Wildlife in town and city gardens has a fragile
existence, dependent often on the goodwill of
the gardener. Admittedly, in some parts of the
world it is unwise to encourage wildlife into the
garden. For example, in a subtropical or tropical
area, shrubs and climbers that draw in birds and
harmless insects may also be inviting to snakes
and other undesirables, and placing such plants
close to the house is to be discouraged. But
temperate regions are another matter. Flere,
where much of the wildlife struggles to survive,
any action that the natural gardener can take to
provide food and shelter is welcome. Such
measures tend to be reciprocal — the increased
range of birds, insects, and small mammals also
acts as a natural biological control, keeping down
garden pests such as slugs, snails, and aphids
without recourse to chemicals.

A Wetland Habitat
Probably the best way to encourage
wildlife into your garden in
temperate areas is to include a
pond. It will attract a greater range
of species than any other single
feature. Make it as large as you
can, and if possible have sloped
edges or protruding rocks so that
amphibians such as newts and
frogs can get out easily. Flat stones
at the water’s edge also provide
useful perching spots for birds.
Lush planting by the pond’s
margins offers cover for small
mammals and, in a large pool,
waterfowl and their chicks. A wide
diversity of insect life will also lure
more birds into the garden. If you
haven’t the space for a pond,
include a bird bath instead.

Trees and shrubs

offer nesting
sites for birds —

Natural garden pond, above right Scented flowers

The focus of this Dutch garden is a large, attract bees,
wood-edged pond generously planted both in butterflies, and other
nectar-feeders
and out of the water to provide Water attracts
a range of habitats. waterfowl, amphibians,
dragonflies, and small
insects, which in turn
A garden for nature, right attract feeding bats
Foliage around
and swallows_
In addition to the pond, the garden offers a edges provides
wide range of shrubs and trees that provide shelter for chicks
and small mammals
wildlife with food and shelter.
 183

City
Attracting Insects
If you want butterflies, bees, and beneficial
insects that prey on pests in your garden, you

Gardens
need to grow flowers that are rich in nectar —
often the wild species rather than the more
showy cultivated plants. Try butterfly bush
(Buddie]a spp.), Sedum spectabile, honeysuckle
(.Lonicera spp.), herbs such as rosemary
(Rosmarinus spp.) and lavender (Lavandula
spp.), and many plants with daisy-like flowers
(Asteraceae family) such as New England
asters (Aster novae-angliae). Butterflies will
stay in your garden if you provide sites for
them to lay their eggs and food plants for
caterpillars, their juvenile form — parsley
(.Petroselinum spp.) and milkweeds (Asclepias
spp.) are particular favorites, so try to find
space for them. Some insects will overwinter
on herbaceous plants that have died back if
they are not cut to the ground; try to save
cutting back until early spring.

Foods for Birds Nesting Sites

Trees and shrubs with berries, such as cotoneasters,
Include dense or thorny shrubs and trees to
mountain ashes (Sorbus spp.), Euonymus species, and hollies
provide protected nesting sites — try barberries,
(Ilex spp.) are a valuable source of food for birds, especially
pyracantha, hawthorns (Crataegus spp.), junipers,
in winter when food is scarce.Try not be too zealous about
roses, and hollies (Ilex spp.). A thick covering of
neatness: leave seedheads on many plants for birds to enjoy.
ivy (Hedera spp.) on a wall or fence will also
To help them survive the winter, put out nut hangers filled
give shelter to birds, as well as small mammals
with unsalted nuts or cereal flakes and provide food,
and insects. Attach nesting boxes or bird houses
including fatty foods such as bacon rind, on a bird feeder
to a tree or wall, preferably with some foliage
well out of reach of cats (and squirrels, if possible).
cover around them.

Welcome visitors
Songbirds, here an Eastern
bluebird, will venture into
your garden if you provide
the right conditions. Try to
include a range of perennials,
trees, and shrubs that offer Pyracantha spp. Ilex spp. Berberis spp.
These spiny Many hollies bear Coloful autumn
birds seeds, berries, soft fruit,
evergreen shrubs spiny leaves; both fruits are a feature
or nuts, as well as shelter
bear showy autumn male and female of these evergreen
and protection. A water
fruit; a favorite shrubs are needed or deciduous
feature, however small, is
with many birds. to bear fruit. spiny shrubs.
another important attraction
to many city birds.
84 N DEX
Index
References in italics refer to
illustrations and plans. References
in bold include plant lists. Where
the Latin and common plant names
are the same, only the Latin name
is used.
Acacia spp. 120, 128, 133, 134, 138
baileyana 60—1
Acanthus hungaricus 167
Acer spp. 93, 169
grosser i 173, 173
Achillea spp. 74, 75 , 84
millefolium 87
tomentosa 150
Actaea spp. 170
Adiantum spp. 63
pedatum 170
Aechmea mulfordii 156
Africa 30, 130, 152
Agapanthus spp. 139, 169
Agave spp. 134
americana 133, 134, 135
Agonis Jlexuosa 177
Agrostemma githago 79
Ajuga spp. 93
Albizia spp. 136, 137
distachya 138
julibrissin f. rosea 1 38
Albuca nelsonii 63
Alchemilla mollis 77, 83
alder 114
Allium spp. 77, 78,79, 171
cernuum 87, 87, 127
cristophii 77, 127
sphaerocephalon 173
stellatum 170
Alnus spp. 114
Aloe spp. 134
Amaryllis belladonna 63, 169
Amelanchier lamarckii 173
Amorpha canescens 1 27
Andalusia 140
Andropogon gerardii 123, 123, 127,
170
Anemone spp. 94, 181
japonica ‘Pamina’ 167
Angelica spp. 11, 76, 77
archangelica 85
annuals 71,72, 95
Anthemis tinctoria 181
Anthriscus sylvaticus 78, 79, 79
Aquilegia spp. 77
canadensis 170
Aralia racemosa 170
architecture 27, 28, 29, 80
desert regions 136, 136
modernist gardens 172, 174,
175
Arctotis spp. 181
Argentina 116, 120, 120, 121
Aristea major 63
Arizona 131, 137
garden 38, 39, 43
Artemisia spp. 173
Arum italicum ‘Pictum’ 99
Aruncus dioicus 170
Asarum canadense 170
Asclepias spp. 87, 127
ash 99
Asplenium spp. 93
lobatum 63
nidus 156
aster, New England 87
aster, smooth 87
Aster spp. 168, 170, 181
cordifolius 127
laevis 87, 123
novae—angliae 87
Asteraceae 183
Astilbe spp. 94, 168, 170
Athyrium spp. 93
Atriplex spp. 75
Australia 21, 140, 148, 152, 165
coastal garden 60—1
garden design 148, 148—9, 149
Modernist city garden 174,
174-5, 176, 176-7, 177
azaleas 92, 93, 94, 167
Babiana spp. 63
Baeckia virgata 176, 177
Ballota pseudodictamnus 146
bamboo 161, 161
Baptisia spp. 123, 171
australis 87, 127
baskets 96, 180
beargrass 78
Beaumontia grandijlora 1 39
bee-balm 119
beech 27, 76, 97, 99
Berberis spp. 94, 183
bergamot 87
Betula spp. 93, 94, 99
biennials, self-seeding 71,72
birch 96, 97, 99
birdhfe 176, 182, 183, 183
bird’s foot trefoil 87
black-eyed Susan 87, 119, 124
blackthorn 87, 183
Blechnum spp. 63
Bloemendaal garden, Haarlem 17
blue oat grass 171
bluebell 92, 93, 93
bluestem, big 123
bluestem, little 122, 123, 168
boardwalks 66, 66
bogs 104
city garden 168
Boronia spp. 181
boulders see rocks,
boundaries 36, 38, 38—9, 165
English garden 27
Bouteloua curtipendula 123, 123,
127
box elder 169
boxwood 74, 84,
Brachyscome spp. 181
multifida 175
bridges, wooden 110—11,135
Briza media 79
bromeliads 154, 156, 156, 157
Bromus brevis 120
broom, Spanish 140—1
Brunnera macrophylla 94
Buddleja spp. 78, 79, 183
Bulaitis, Bonita, city garden 36—7,
172, 172-3
Bulaitis, Susan, glass partition 173
bulbs, naturalized in grass 78, 79,
85, 93
Burrell, Colston (Cole) 168, 170
Butomus umbellatus 108
buttercup 71
butterflies 78, 183, 183
butterfly garden, Priona 72, 74
butterfly bush 78,79, 183
butterfly garden, Priona 72,74
butter fly weed 87
Buxus spp. 75, 146
sempervirens 84
Bye, A. E. 41
cacti 128, 130, 133, 134
Calamagrostis acutiflora 173
California 140
Calliandra haematocephala 157
Callirhoe triangulata 1 27
Callistemon spp. 150, 177
Camassia spp. 71, 126
Campanula spp. 94
rotundifolia 79, 87, 127
campion, red 92, 93, 93
Campsis radicans 139, 150
Capetown gardens 62, 62—3, 63,
164
Cardamine pratensis 87
Carex spp. 173, 178, 181
conica 84
pendula 167
pennsylvanica 127
Carissa grandiflora 156
Carnegiea gigantea 132, 132, 134,
135
carob 150, 151
Carya ovata 122
Cassia marilandica 87
Castanea sativa 99
Casuarina spp. 138
cat’s ear 87
cattails 109, 114-115
Cattleya spp. 161, 161
Caulophyllum thalictroides 127
Ceanothus americanus 127
Celtis pallida 132-3, 134
Centaurea spp. 79, 87
Centranthus ruber 1 77
Ceratonia siliqua 150, 151
Ceratophyllum demersum 115
Cercidium spp. 138
microphyllum 132—3, 134, 134,
138
Cercis canadensis 94, 139
Cereus spp. 133, 134, 181
hildemanianus 134
chainff uit cholla tree 134
chamomile 42
Chapman, Gregg 174
Chatto, Beth 14, 15, 16
Chelone glabra 127
cherry 179
flowering 92
chestnut 99, 99
Chile 140
China 152
Choique Viejo, El 120, 120, 121
Choisya ternata 177
Chrysanthemum spp. 18 1
parthenium 85
Cimicifuga spp. 170, 171
Cirsium heterophyllum 74, 75
Cistus spp. 150
citrus 181
city gardens 25, 162, 162—3, 164,
165, 173
design for Scotland 178, 178—9
Georgetown garden 166, 166, 167
Minneapolis 168, 168-9, 170,
170-1
 N D EX 85

Modernist gardens 172, 17.2—3,
174, 174-5, 176, 176-1
Claytonia virginica 170
Clematis spp. 74, 79
montana 79
Clement, Gilles 90
Cleome spp. 72
climate 22, 24
climbing plants 79, 139, 178
Clivia 167
clover 71,81
coastal gardens 58, 58—9, 60, 61,
66-7
Australian bush garden 60—1
Capetown, South Africa 62, 62—3,
63
garden design 64, 64—5
pebble garden 60
coastal regions 24, 58, 61
dune landscape 17—18
stabilization 58
coconut palm 159
coneflower, purple 87, 119, 123
coneflower, yellow 20, 119, 123
Connecticut garden 30, 38-9, 41,
41
tender perennials 73
container gardens 73, 130, 168—9,
180,180,181
containers 46, 180, 181
contouring 41,41
Convolvulus mauritanicus 176
Cooper, Paul (sculpture) 49
coppicing 14, 99, 99
Cordyline spp. 156
australis 138, 138, 111
Coreopsis spp. 181
lanceolata 87, 123
Crataegus spp. 77, 87, 93, 178,
183
Crowther, Alison, woodcraft 47,
48-9
cuckoo flower 87
Cupressus spp. 144, 146
cycads 165
Cyclamen, autumn-flowering 99
bederifolium 99
Cyclopia sessiliflora 63
Cymbidium spp. 161, 169
Cynodon transvaalensis 63
Cyperus papyrus 173
cypress 150, 151
Cyrtanthus spp. 63
daffodil 79, 93
naturalized in grass 78, 79, 85,
93
Daleafrutescens 1 34
date palm 138
daylily 120
decking 66, 66, 110—11
subtropical garden 41
Dendrobium spp. 161
Deschampsia spp. 127, 173
desert gardens 38, 130, 138, 138,
139
garden design 136, 136—7
oasis 44, 139 . epimedium 170, 171
Tucson garden 30—1, 130, 132,
132-3, 134-5, 134
desert regions 25, 128, 130, 131,
132, 137
Desmodium canadense 127
Doryanthes palmeri 177
downland 27
chalk garden 76—7, 76—7
drift & flow planting 52, 52, 53, 84, Fag us spp. 27
84 Fargesia nitida 167
dryland gardens 128, 1 38, 139 Faulkner, Nicole 174
see also desert gardens, Felicia spp. 1 81
dryland regions 25, 128, 128, 130, fencing 38, 39, 95, 96
131 bamboo 161
Dryopteris spp. 93, 170 ferns 10, 39, 157, 169
Duchesnea indica 164 city garden 171
duckboards 66 coastal garden 62, 62, 63
Duffield, Mary-Rose 139 woodland gardens 17, 93, 97, 99
Dutch movement 17—18, 17, 18—19 Eero cactus spp. 134
Festuca spp. 77, 173
feverfew 11
Ficus spp. 146
pumila 63, 139
Echinacea spp. 127, 127 fig 145
angustifolia 170 filbert (hazel) 98
purpurea 87, 119, 127 Filipendula spp. 87, 93
Echinocactus spp. 133, 134, 134 rubra 127, 170
Echinocereus spp. 1 34 fire prevention 150
Ecbinops ritro 77 flax 78
ecology, regions 17, 24, 24—5 Florida hammock 155
editing 85, 85 flowers, wild 21,21, 71, 72, 87,
Elymus spp. 123, 127 87, 174
Engelman’s prickly pear 132—3 Dutch movement 17—18, 17, 18
England 27, 70, 71, 140 meadow garden 78, 79, 79
downland garden 76—7, 76 77 Foeniculum vulgare83
city garden 162—3, 165 fountains 136, 137, 165, 166
Epilobium spp. 75 Fouquieria splendens 132
foxglove 97
Equisetum hyemale 173 France 140, 141
Erigeron spp. 181 Fraxinus spp. 93, 173
Eriobotrya japonica 138 uhdei 13 8
Eriocepbalus spp. 181 furniture 38-9, 46, 46-7, 96
Eryngium spp. 83, 170

‘Moonbeam’ 166, 167 Dianthus spp. 72, 79, 83, 181 giganteum 36

palmata 127, 170 carthusianorum 74 yuccifolium 123

tinctoria 'll Diboll, Neil 122, 122-3, 126 Eschscholzia spp. 131

corn marigold 78 Dicentra eximia 169, 170 Eucalyptus spp. 121, 138, 176, 176, gabions 64, 67, 67
corncockle 79 Dichorisandra thyrsiflora 156, 157 177 Galium verum 93
cornflower 78 Dierama pendulum 63 pauciflora 138 garden design 32, 32—3, 36
Cornus spp. 91, 94, 110 Digitalis spp. 77 Eucomis autumnalis 63 Gardenia Jortunei 156, 157
alba 108 purpurea 93 Euonymus spp. 84, 94, 173 Gazania spp. 83, 142—3, 150
sanguinea 84 Dimorphotheca spp. 181 europaeus 183 Genista spp. 146
stolonifera 114 Dipsacusjullonum 85 Eupatorium spp. 84, 127, 127 Gentiana andrewsii 1 27
Cortaderia spp. 116, 117, 120 Disa unijlora 62, 63 maculatum 127 Georgetown garden 166, 166, 167,
Corylus spp. 98, 98, 99 Distictis buccinatoria 1 39 Euphorbia spp. 83, 127, 130, 133, 167
cotoneaster 183 Docton Mill garden, Devon 92, 92, 134 Geranium spp. 71,74, 77, 169
cottage gardens 14, 14, 75,71 93, 93 lathyrus 84 ‘Johnson’s Blue’ 127
garden design 80-1,80—1 Dodecatheon meadia 87, 127 polychroma 94 macrorrhizum 167
cow parsnip (Anthriscus spp.) 53, 78, dogwood 91 robbiae 99 maculatum 127, 170
79, 79 Doronicum spp. 178, 181 Europe 24, 88 pratense 84,81
cowslip 87 Dorset, wetland garden 106, Euryops spp. 142—3, 181 psilostemon 74, 74, 171
cranesbill, meadow 87 106-7, 108-9, 108 Germany 21,21
86 N D EX
Gerritson, Henk 72
Geum trijlorum 127, 170
ginger, blue 156, 157, 169
Gladiolus alatus 63
Gleditsia triacanthos 138
Gloriosa spp. 155
goats beard 170
golden barrel cactus 133, 134
goldenrod 119, 122, 123, 123, 168
gorse 54
grapevines 28-9, 137, 148
grasses 18, 21, 50, 127
maritime 64, 66
with naturalized bulbs 78, 79, 85,
93
grassland gardens 25, 116—17, 119,
122, 126,127
El Choique Viejo 120, 120, 121
prairie garden 122, 122—3, 123
prairie design 124, 124—5
grasslands 116, 116, 119
gravel 42, 82, 162
gravel gardens 13, 76, 77, 83
drift & flow plant association 84,
84
preparation 82, 82—3
Great Britain 17, 21, 70, 71
Greene, Isabelle 41, 66
groundcover plants 42, 54, 150,
160-1
beaches 58—9
Gunnera spp. 34
Guzmania spp. 156
hackberry, desert 132—3 134
ha-ha 34, 108
Hall, Janis 30-1,38-9, 41
harebell 87
Hawaii 156—7
hazel 98-9, 98, 99
heather 42, 54, 178, 7 79
Hedera spp. 99, 183
hedgerows 35, 68, 76, 86, 87
plants 38, 77, 99, 170
Helenium spp. 181
Helianthus mollis 127
Helichrysum spp. 83, 181
Hel i coni a spp. 156
Heliopsis helianthoides 87
Helipterum spp. 181
Helleborus spp. 170
Joetidus 84, 99
Hemerocallis cultivars 120
Heracleum sphondylium 53
herbs 14, 71,83
Luberon hills garden 144, 146,
146-7
Hermannia saccifera 63
Heteromeles arbutijolia 150
Heuchera spp. 173
richardsonii 127, 170
hickory, shagbark 122
Hicks, Ivan (sculpture) 48
hogweed 53
Holland 17-18
holly 94, 183, 183
honeysuckle 74, 97, 183
Hosta spp. 169, 170, 171
‘Honeybells’ 167
Hoy a carnosa 139
Hyacinthoides nonscripta 92, 93, 93
Hydrangea spp. 94
Hypoxis setosa 63
Hypericum pyramidatum 1 27
Hypochaeris radicata 87
Ilex spp. 94, 183, 183
India 152
indigenous plants 21, 50, 71, 174
insects 182, 183
Ipomoea pes-caprae 160
Ireland 45, 140
Iris spp. 18,19,168,171
Joetidissima 84, 99
missouriensis 127
pallida 84
pseudacorus 77, 93, 115
sibirica 11,111, 167, 181
ivy 99, 183
Jacaranda mimosijvlia 138, 138
Japan 12, 13, 13, 152
Jarman, Derek 60
Jasminum spp. 139
Jekyll, Gertrude 14, 52
Jensen, Jens 13,17
Joe Pye weed 168
Johannesburg garden 30, 128—9
Juncus ensifolius 173
juniper 150
Kent, garden design 80, 80—1, 81
knapweed, greater 87
Knautia spp. 87
macedonica 74, 173
Koeleria cristata 127, 127
Laburnum spp. 79
Lachenalia spp. 143
Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’ 167
lake 106, 106-7, 108-9
see also ponds; pools; wetland
Gardens,
lamb’s ears 171
land art 48, 48-9, 60
landscapes 20, 21, 26, 34, 35
integration 27, 30, 30—1, 70
Lantana spp. 167
Lavandula spp. 83, 146, 183
lavender 76, 83, 140-1, 183
insects 183
lavender cotton 144, 147
terrace garden, Provence 144—5,
146, 146
lawns 42, 139, 150
alternative plants 63, 71, 160—1,
165
alternatives 42—3, 142
Layia platyglossa 181
Leucanthemum spp. 87, 181
Leucophyllumfrutescens 134, 135
level changes 36, 40, 41,41
Liatris spp. 87, 127
Ligularia spp. 53, 168
Ligustrum lucidum 138
Lilium spp. 78, 79, 126
superbum 127
lily, martagon 78,19
Limonium spp. 59—60
Lincoln Memorial Garden, Illinois
16
Linden,Ton ter 18, 18—19, 50—1
Linum anglicum 78, 19
Liriope muscari ‘Big Blue’ 167
Lobelia cardinalis 127
locality 13, 26, 26-7, 28, 28-9,
151, 178
London, gardens 36—7, 162—3, 172,
172—3, 173
Long Island garden 31
Lonicera spp. 79, 183
Lotus spp. 87, 146
love-in-a-mist 77, 77
Luberon hills garden 144, 144—5,
146, 146-7
Lupinus perennis 123, 127
Lychnis spp. 83, 93
Lysiloma microphylla 138
Lysimachia spp. 94, 171
Macdiarmid, Sarah 92
Macjadyena unguis-cati 1 39
Magnolia spp. 94, 169
Mahonia japonica {Bealei’ 167
Malephora crocea 58
mallow, musk 87
Malva moschata 87
Mandevilla suaveolens 139
Maryland senna 87
materials, local 1 3, 27, 28, 28—9,
151, 178
Mazus reptans ‘Albus’ 42, 167, 167
meadow gardens 72—5, 78—9, 78—9,
87
planting 21, 21, 71, 86—7, 86
meadow rue 169, 171
meadowlands 71, 86—7, 86,87
wet 104, 104
meadowsweet 87
Medinilla magnifica 156
Mediterranean gardens 140—1, 142,
142-3, 146
Luberon hills, France 144, 144—5,
146-7, 146
maintenance 150—1, 150, 151
design for Australia 148, 148—9
Mediterranean regions 23, 24, 140,
143
grapevines 28—9
Melbourne, city garden 174,
174-5, 176, 176-7, 177
Melia azedarach 138
Mertensia virginica 170
Midwest America garden design
124,124-5
Mierop, Lisa 94
Minneapolis, city garden 168,
168-9, 170-1, 170
Miscanthus spp. 103
jloridulus 167
sinensis 84, 86, 127
Mitchella repens 161
Modernism
city garden by B. Bulaitis 172,
172-3, 173
Melbourne city garden 174,
174—5, 176, 176-7, 177
Moir, May & Goodale 156
Molinia caerulea ‘Windspiel’ 173
Monardajistulosa 87, 123, 127
Monstera deliciosa 154—5
Moraea aristata 63
mosses 39, 43, 157

coastal garden 62, 62
moss garden, Japan 13
mountain ashes 183
Muehlenbeckia complexa 176, 177
mulch 43, 54, 55, 84, 15i
mullein 83, 53
N
Nandina domestica 173
Narcissus spp. 79, 93
naturalized in grass 78, 79, <5*5, 95
natural gardening 14, 25, 22
Netherlands 17-18, 17, 18-19
US 17, 20, 21,27
Nectaroscordum siculum 77
Nelumbo nucifera 156, 156
Nephrolepis exaltata 161
Nerine sarniensis 63
Nerium oleander 139
Netherlands 68, 104
Dutch movement 17—18, 17,
18-19
water garden 104—5
wetland gardens 45, 68—9, 104,
105
nettle 183
New England gardens 38—9, 41,41
New South Wales, Australia 148,
148-9
New Zealand 116, 140, 165
Nig ell a damascena 77, 77
North America 124, 124, 152
woodland regions 88
Northern blazing star 87
Nupharlutea 108, 108, 109
nut walk, Sissinghurst Castle,
England 98, 98
Nuuanu valley garden, Hawaii 156,
156,157
Nymphaea spp. 115
o
oak 95, 99, 122
ocotillo cactus 132
Odontoglossum spp. 161
Oehme, Wolfgang 21,31, 89
city garden 166, 166-7
wetland garden, Long Island 102-3
Oenothera spp. 85, 139
Olea spp. 63
oleander 151
olive 63, 140, 140-1, 142, 151
terraces 40, 143
Oncidium spp. 161
onion, nodding pink 87
Onopordum spp. 11, 73, 74, 183
acanthium 84, 84, 85
Ophrys apifera 79
Opuntia spp. 132—3, 134, 181
Jicus-indica 134
Orange River gorge, South Africa
128
orchids 159, 160, 161, 161
Oregon, waterfall 104
Origanum vulgare 74
Orthrosanthus multijlorus 148, 177,
177
Osteospermum spp. 71
Oudolf, Piet 18
Oxalis spp. 63, 120
oxeye daisy 78, 87
oxeye sunflower 87
Oxypetalum spp. 1 20
p
Paeonia lutea 76,11
palo verde 132—3, 134, 134, 138
pampas 116, 116, 119
pampas garden, Argentina 31, 120,
120,121
pampas grass 116, 117, 120, 121
Panicum virgatum 127, 170
Papaver spp. 19,83
Paphiopedilum spp. 161
papyrus 172, 173
Parkinsonia aculeata 138
parsnip 72—3, 75
Paspalum dilatatum 120
Passiflora x alatocaerulea 139
paths 100, 100-1, 167, 169
grass 78—9, 78—9
paving 42, 42, 167, 181
Pearson, Dan 162—3
pebble garden 60
Pelargonium spp. 59—60, 63
Pennisetum alopecuroides 167, 177
Penstemon spp. 170
digitalis 87, 123, 127
perennials 14, 73, 83, 94, 94
Perovskia atriplicifolia 167
Petalosternum purpureum 87
Phalaenopsis spp. 156, 161
Philadelphus spp. 78, 79, 94
Pblomis fruticosa 11
Phlox spp. 91
pilosa 170, 170
procumbens 42, 11
Phoenix canariensis 1 38
N D EX 87
Phormium tenax 173 planting 122, 122—3, 123
photographs, aerial 26—7 prickly pear 134, 181
Phygelius aequalis 63 primrose 86, 87, 93
phytosociological garden 17 Primula spp. 77, 79, 93, 181
Picea glauca ‘Conica’ 94 Jlorindae 114
pieris 93 veris 87
pine 61, 150 vulgaris 86, 87, 93
pink 181 Priona garden, Holland 72, 72—3,
Pinus spp. 61, 138, 138, 150 74-5, 74—5
Pithecellobiumjlexicaule 134, 138 Prosopis spp. 134, 138
Pittosporum tobira 139 Prostanthera spp. 177
plant associations 18-19,21,50—1, pro tea 143, 164
52 Provence, France 28, 40
drift and flow 52, 52, 53, 84, 84 Luberon hills garden 144, 144—5,
plant editing 85, 85 146, 146-7
planting 50 Prunella vulgaris 87, 93
in grass 85 Prunus spinosa 87, 183
in paving 181 pulmonaria 171
in woodland 99, 99, 101 Pyracantha spp. 183
plant groupings 52, 52, 53, 84, 84 Pyrus spp. 93
wildflowers 14, 86, 86
plants, wild see flowers, wild.
Platycerium spp. 156
plum 79
Plumbago capensis 139, 139 Quercus spp. 93, 122
Poa habillardieri 148 quince 147
Podranea ricasoliana 1 39
Polemonium reptans 127
Polygonatum spp. 169, 170
Polypodium spp. 156
Polystichum aculeatum 99
R
railroad ties 32, 41, 134
ponds 104, 171 path 96, 96-7, 100
creation 112, 112—13 Ranunculus spp. 71, 127
planting 114—15, 114—15 aquatilis 115
wildlife 34, 35,45, 182 Ratibida pinnata 20, 119, 123, 127
pools 44, 44, 104, 105 reeds 103, 108, 110, 111, 114
city gardens 36,44—5, 171, 175 Restio tetraphyllus 175
drylands gardens 121, 139, 147 Rhododendron spp. 93, 94
plunge pool 139 Rhus spp. 63, 165
series in Colorado 104 rice 152, 159
see also lake; wetland gardens. rocks 31,36, 43, 62-3, 139
Pope, Alexander, quoted 21 as boundary 38
poplar, white 120, 121, 138, 173 Japanese garden 12, 13, 13
poppy 72, 75, 78, 83, 85
Populus spp. 120, 121, 138
tremula 173
pot plants 73, 130, 168-9, 180-1,
181,181
rodents 138
Rodgersia spp. 168
Romanticism 14, 14, 53
roof garden 162—3
rose 71,78
Potentilla fruticosa 77 ‘Etoile de Hollande’ 79
“Pot-Square” perennials in pots 73 ‘Mme. Alfred Carriere’ 77
prairie 22, 25,28-9, 116, 119 ‘Nevada’ 77
prairie gardens 116—17, 118, 118, ‘Nuits deYoung’ 77
119 ‘Penelope’ 76, 77
city garden 168—9, 170 ‘The Fairy’ 77
El Choique Viejo 120, 120, 121 ‘William Lobb’ 77
garden design 124, 124—5, 126—7, rosemary 144, 146, 183
127 rosin weed 122
I 88 I N D EX
Rosmarinus spp. 83, 146, 183
Rothschild, Miriam 78
Rubus cockburnianus 84
Rudbeckia spp. 7 79, 127
‘Autumn Sun’ 168
birta 87, 123, 127, 127, 181
rush 77, 110
Ryder, Sophie (willow sculpture) 48
sage 144
Saguaro spp. 132, 132, 134, 135
Salix spp. 48, 108, 110
a77>a 84, 108
x sepulcralis 114
Salvia spp. 83, 94, 146
San Francisco, city garden 165
Santa Catalina mountains, Arizona
131,134, 138
Santolina chamaecyparissus 146, 747
Satureja spp. 146
savory 144
Scabiosa spp. 72, 74
scabious, devil’s bit 87
scabious, field 87
Scbizachyrium scoparium 122, 123, 722
Schizostylis coccinea 63
Schlepers, Anton 72, 74
Scirpus cernuus 173
Scotland, city garden design 178,
7 72, 7 79
screens 66, 67, 67, 161
see also shelter belts; wind,
sculptures 48, 48, 49
seaside gardens see coastal gardens,
sedges 42, 42-3, 50, 178, 181
Sedum spp. 74, 183
Selaginella spp. 63
selfheal 87
Senecio spp. 139, 146
shade 1 34, 139
plants 134, 136, 138, 170
shelter belts 18, 67, 67, 1S1
bamboo 161
pine trees 67
shooting star 87
shrubs 14, 78, 97,94
desert plants 134
waterside 114
Silene spp. 74, 127
dioica 92, 93, 93
Silpbium spp. 722, 127, 168
Silybum marianum 84, 84
Singapore, garden 7 54
Sisyrinchium spp. 83
striatum 77
site assessment 22, 26—9, 26—7
Smilacina stellata 170
Smith, Joe (stone vase) 49
snowdrop 97
soil conditions 54, 55
stabilization 151, 151
Solanum jasminoides 139, 150
Solidago spp. 127, 168, 170
‘GoldenWings’ 727
rigida 1 19, 722, 123, 123
Solomon’s seal 769
Sonoran desert, Arizona 27, 27,
724, 727
Tucson garden 30—1, 130, 132,
722-2, 724-5, 134
Sorbus spp. 93, 183
Sorghastrum nutans 127
South Africa 67, 116, 140, 742—2
Orange River gorge 128
South America 1 52
Spartina ciliata 120
Spartium junceum 140—1
Spathoglottis spp. 156, 157
Spiraea spp. 94, 7 70
Sporobolus spp. 123, 127
rigens 120
Springer, Leonard 17
Stachys byzantina 83
Stenotapbrum secundatum 1 20
steps 7 72, 7 72
stone 151, 151, 173
wood 22 47, 100, 101
Stipa spp. 120, 173
giganteum 127
stone art 48 49
stones see rocks.
Strachan, A. C. (Cottage Si^Garden)
14
strawberry 75
Strelitzia nicolai 156
Streptocarpus spp. 7 69
Styrax japonicus 94, 95
subtropical gardens 154, 754—5,
156, 765
planting 160—1, 7 60—1
subtropics, regions 152, 155
Succisa pratensis 87
succulents 128, 130, 722, 134
sumac 765
sunflower 119, 7 79
Sussex garden, England 34, 24—5
swimming pools 27, 62—3, 121
Syringa spp. 79, 94
Tanacetum spp. 11,85
Taxus baccata 84
Tecoma capensis 139, 729
Tecomaria capensis 150
temperate gardens 70, 77, 82, 82—3
chalk downland garden 76—7, 76,
77
Kent garden design 80, 80—1, 81
meadow gardens 78, 78—9, 86—7,
86, 87
planting 84—5
Priona garden, Holland 72, 72—2,
74-5, 74-5
wetland garden 68—9
temperate regions 25, 68, 70, 71,
88
terrace garden, Provence 144,
144-5, 146, 746-7
terraces 40, 41, 66, 7 75
planting 181
terracing 40, 41, 151, 757
Teucriumjruticans 146
Texas rain sage 1 34, 725
Thailand, garden 752—2, 158,
158-9
Thalictrum spp. 127, 769
Thijsse, Jac 17—18
Thijsse park, Amsterdam 17, 7 7,
45, 705
thistle, Scots 7 7, 72, 74, 752
Thryptomene saxicola 177
Thunbergia grandijlora 1 39
thyme 42, 144, 146, 765
Thymus spp. 77, 83, 146
Tillandsia cyanea 156, 756
Tipuana tipu 138
Tofukuji temple garden, Japan 72
Tradescantia ohiensis 127
tree fern 757
trees 24,93,94, 114, 722
coppicing 14
for shade 138, 138
planting 707
Trichocereus spp. 1 34
tropical gardens 152—3, 154-7,
760, 767
design for Thailand 158, 158—9
tropical regions 25, 152, 154, 155
Tucson garden, Arizona 30—1, 130,
132, 722-2, 134-5, 134
Tulipa spp. 78, 79
Typha spp. 34
latifolia 108, 709, 114-15
Uniola paniculata 160
ursinia 143
Urtica dioica 183
US 21, 24, 116, 152
Valeriana ojficinalis 93
Van Sweden, James 21, 31, 89,
102-3
city garden 166, 766—7
Van Wyck, Patrick 30—1,132,
132-3
Vanda spp. 161
Vauquelinia californica 134
vegetable garden, Priona 72, 72—3,
75
veldt garden, Johannesburg 20
Veltheimia spp. 7 64
Verbascum spp. 72, 83, 127
chaixii 127
olympicum 74, 75, 77
Verbena spp. 120, 170
bonariensis 74, 173
Vernoniafasciculata 127
Vesian, Nicole de 744
Viburnum spp. 52, 84, 94, 146
Viola spp. 74, 79
canadensis 170
riviniana 93
Virginia 20
Kitex agnus-castus 1 38
Wacbendorfia spp. 63
walls 38—9
gabion 64, 67, 67
Walser, Urs 21
water features 36, 44, 44, 45, 104
fountains 726, 727, 766, 767
lake 106, 106-7, 108-9
modernist gardens 7 72, 7 72, 7 75
streams 20, 32, 22—2
swimming pools 27, 62—2, 727
water rill 136, 726—7
water-chute balustrade 62
watercourses 752
waterfalls 72, 704
see also ponds; pools,
water gardens see wetland gardens,
water lily 108, 109, 7 75, 7 77
 N D EX 89

water plants 108, 114—15, 173

watering 139, 150, 150
Key to Landscape Symbols
Watson, Patrick 44
Capetown garden 62, 62—3
Johannesburg garden 30, 12S—9

Watsonia spp. 63, 143 Outline of

building
Weisse, Rosemarie 21
structure
Westringia Jruticosa ‘Wynyabbie Gem’
Trees
176, 177
wetlands 24, 68, 102, 104, 104,
Loose hedge
111
(boundary)
Cambridge, England 10 Architectural
plants
fencing 39
wetland gardens 10, 50—1, 53,
102-3, 104-9 Brick or as
Dorset, England 106, 106—7, specified

108-9, 108 Dryland tree (left)

garden design 110-15, 110—15 Brick edging X///nu\! vvv-r and shrub (right)
Netherlands 68—9, 74
planting 108, 114, 114—15, 173
wildlife 13, 28, 68, 100, 182, 183
pond design 112, 182, 182
Evergreen
water features 34, 35, 36, 45 Paving slabs shrub mass
willow 48, 110, 114
willow-herb, rose bay 75
wind 30, 60
pine tree shelter belt 61 Shrubs,
loose mass
windbreaks 18, 67, 67, 151
Decking
wisteria 79
woodcraft 96, 96, 100, 100—1
bridge 110—11, 135
Ground-
furniture 44, 46-7, 48-9 Random-cut
woodland 25, 88, 88, 91, 91 z stone
cover mass

coppicing 99, 99
floor 10, 42, 43, 55
'•:
Perennials in
woodland gardens 17, 89, 90, 90—1
i * • + + a border
Docton Mill, Devon 92, 92, 93,93
1 _ Steps
forest clearing, New Jersey 94,
94, 95
garden design 96, 96—7
management 88, 98—101,98, 99, Bulbs en masse
.lx_ll Gravel
100, 101
nut walk. Sissinghurst Castle,
England 98, 98
Rough grass (left)
Thijsse park, Amsterdam 17
Contour lines Mown grass (right)

yarrow 87
yew 74

yucca 124, 125, 147

Yucca Jilamentosa 139
Zamia pumila 160
Zizia aptera 127
90 Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Author’s Acknowledgments Publisher’s Acknowledgments

In putting this book together I have realized that I am only at the Dorling Kindersley would like to thank Claire Caiman and Diana Vowles

beginning of a journey into new gardening, which I hope many more for their editorial assistance; designers Wendy Bartlet, Margherita

will wish to take, each in their own individual corner of the world. Gianni, and Andrew Nash; Brian Craker, John Woodcock, and Chris

I have called upon the advice and sought the help from friends along Orr for additional illustrations; Ella Skene for the index; and models

the way whom I would like to thank, in alphabetical order: Martina Andrew Duff, Rachel Hannibal, and Eleanor Pletts. Thanks also to

Barzi with Maria Josefina Casares; Sue Clifford with Angela King; Grahame Dixie of H.V. Horticulture Ltd, England, and Neil Diboll of

Grahame Dixie; Andrew Duff and Rachel Hannibal; Heidi Prairie Nursery, Wisconsin, for their invaluable advice on native plants.

Gildemeister; Jim Hagstrom; Jill Hamilton; Fred and Nada Jenett;

Norah Killip; Jim van Sweden; Patrick Watson; and Richard We extend special thanks to Bonita Bulaitis, Mr. and Mrs. Bourcier,

Wogisch. 1 would also like to thank my two colleagues at home, C. Colston Burrell, Gregg Chapman, Lionel de Rothschild, Neil Diboll,

Michael Neve and Michael Zinn, who suffer when a book is “on the Henk Gerritsen, Janice Hall, Sarah Macdiarmid, Lisa Mierop, May

go,” and my very patient secretary, Jill Robertson-Macdonald. Their Moir, Raymond Nuesch, Miriam Rothschild, Laura Stephens, Hubert

help is invaluable. Additional help and long-sufferance came from deVesian, the late Nicole deVesian, Beryl Watson, James van Sweden,

my editor, Jenny Jones, who, coming from a farming background, and Philip Van Wyck for supplying details of the gardens featured.

was totally unfazed by my blending of garden with landscape. The

visual aspect of the book was managed by Cath MacKenzie. I think Every effort has been made to credit all the designers whose work has

that mix of possibility with reality was masterly. I thank both of been featured. The Publishers would be pleased to hear from anyone

them and their associates most warmly. who has been omitted, to whom we apologize.

Featured Gardens Open to the: Public

pp72—75 pp122—123 pp168-171

Priona-tuinen Prairie Nursery Native Landscape Design and Restoration Ltd.
Schuineslootweg 13 PO Box 306 407 Second Street NE
Schuinesloot Westfield Minneapolis, MN 55413
The Netherlands WI 53964 US
Open to the public. US
Plants and seeds for ecological gardening, natural
pp172—173
pp92-93 landscaping, and consulting services.
Bonita Bulaitis, with Susan Bulaitis
Docton Mill
Landscape and Garden Design
Spekes Valley, Nr. Hartland pp132 135
6 Walton Road
N. Devon EX39 6EA Van Wyck & Associates
Ware, Herts SGI 2 0AA
England 627-A East Speedway Boulevard
Open to the public. England
Tucson
AZ 85705
pp174-177
US
Featured Garden Designers Faulkner and Chapman Landscape Design

pp166—167 106 Cole Street

pp62—63
Patrick Watson Design Company Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Inc. Brighton, Victoria, 3162

51 Muirfield Road Landscape Architects Australia

Greenside 800 G Street SE

Johannesburg 2193 Washington, DC, 2003 Gardens featured on pages 34—35, 76—77, 106—109

South Africa US and 120—121 were designed by the author.

Photo credits

t = top, 1 = left, r = right, c = centre, b = bottom, f = far, a = above, col = column 25cl, 31 tr, 120tr, 120cr, 120bc, 121 tl, 121 tr, 121cr, 121 br /Coton Manor Gardens,

Peter Anderson: design Philip Van Wyck 25cr, 99tr, 99tc, 99ca, 99cra, 132—1 33a, Northants 81bc /Edwina von Gal, New York 118 /design Sonny Garcia, San

132—1 33b, 133tr, 134cl, 1 34cr, 1 34tr, 135cr, 135cb. Arcaid: EarlCarter/Belle Francisco 165bc /design Oehme 8c van Sweden back jacket tr, 20, (owner Corbin

/Architect A. C. Kitibutr 152—153; Mark Fiennes/Reginald Johnson 1 36bc; Ray Gwaltney) 31crb, (owner Michael Robinson) 21r /RichardTan, Singapore 154cl.

Main 39br, Simon Kenny/Belle/Architect Terry Brooks 136bl. Ardea: J.B. Sc S. Marijke Heuff: design Gilles Clement 90bl, 90cl. Holt Studios International

Bottomley: 44tr. A-Z Botanical Collection: 160cr. B.C.T.V: 67bl. Bridgeman Willem Harinck 1 19br.Hutchison Library: Dr. Nigel Smith 91br. Image Bank:

Art Library, London: Corbally Stourton Contemporary Art, London: Snake Grant V. Faint 104crb. The Irish Picture Library: back inside flap bcl, 54bl,

Dreaming, 1984,Turkey TolsonTjupurrula 148 cb. John Brookes: front bl, 39tr, 65cr. Gill Kenny: 131, 132bl. Carol Knoll: design Patrick Watson front jacket

44bl, 61cr, 76bl, 80clb, 108cl, 108c, 113cla, 113tl, 132bc, (design Mary-Rose tr, 30c, 128—129, 1 30cl. David Lamb: 50bl, 162tr. Andrew Lawson: 8br, 38c,

DufField) 139bl, lSlcra, 161 br, 161crb, 161cr. Jonathan Buckley: design John 47tl, 79bc, / Augsburg Botanic Gardens, Germany 47tr /courtesy Miriam

Brookes 4fl col(iv), 5fr col(iv), 24cr, 56cl, 106c, 106cl, 106—107, 106—107c, Rothschild 78br, 78bl, 79cr, 79tr /design Dan Pearson 162—163 /design Mirabel

106bl, 106bc, 107tc, 108bc, 108—109, 109br. Michael Busselle: lOcb, 22—23, Osier 49tr /Docton Mill, Hartland, Devon 92bl, 93cl, 93cr, 93cb /Vann, Surrey

28—29b, 81 br, 83tr, 111 bl, 140bl, 144clb, 144bl. The J. Allan Cash Photolibrary: lOlclb, / West Park, Munich, Germany 21 bl. Tim Laws Macaire Photographic

64cr, 148bl, 158cl. Cephas Picture Library: Mick Rock 27bl; Nick Carding Bureau: courtesy Mr Sc Mrs E.K. Bourcier 92—93, 93tr. Allan Mandell: 104cb.

68bl. Leigh Clapp: (design Faulkner & Chapman) 25br, 40 /design Faulkner 8c Simon McBride: 143cr. Lisa Mierop: 25tr, 94tr, 94cl, 94bc, 95tr, 95cr, 95br.

Chapman 174cl, 174-175a, 174-175b, 175tc, 176, 176bl, 176br, 177bl, 177br, Linny Morris Cunningham: front inside tl /design May Moir 25bl, 155br, 156tr,

177cr /design Chris Miller 60—61. Bruce Coleman Ltd: Alain Compost 159tc; 156bc, 156cr, 1 57tr, 157bl, 1 57br. Nature Photographers: E.A. Janes 27bl.

Erwin 8c Peggy Bauer 149ca; Geoff Dore 65cra, 178cr; Jeff Foott productions 125tc; N.H.P.A: Alberto Nardi 88bl; David Wood fall 179ca; E. A. Janes 179 tr,; John Shaw-

Jens Rydell 179cr; John Worrall 11 ltc; Jules Cowan 54—55. Collections: Michael 28 -29a. Oxford Scientific Films: 154bl; G. I. Bernard 151 cl; Harold Taylor

George 71 cl. Colorific: PeterTenzer/Wheeler Pictures 102—103. P. Cooper. 159cr; Jack Dermid 160c; Max Gibbs 152b; Mark Hamblin 96ca; P. K. Sharpe

49cl. Alison Crowther. 2—3, 47br, 48^1-9. Neil Diboll: 122br, 122cl, 1 22tr, 115br; Richard Davies 150br; Richard Packwood 130bc; Robert C. Nunnington

122—123, 123bc, 123cr, 1 23cl, 126bc; Christine Douglas: 4fl col(vi), 5fr col(vi), 128bl; Ronald Toms 9bl, 48bl; Scott Camazine 161 bl. Planet Earth Pictures:

/design Philip Van Wyck 8bl, 30—31, 38—39c, 43br, 57cl /design Colston Burrell Alain Dragesco 130cra; J Eastcott 8c Y. Momatiuk 22bl, 124 cb, 124-125, JanTove

1169tc, 170tr, 170cl, 170bc, 171 tl, 171 tr, 171 bl, 171 br. Ken Druse: back jacket Johansson lOcb; John Lythgoe front inside tc, 119cr. Howard Rice: 4fl col(ii), 5fr

bcl, 42bl, 90-91, 119cl. Richard P. Felber: design Oehme 8c van Sweden 102-103. col(ii), 141, 14—15, 1 5r, 27cr, 56tr, 64crb /design John Brookes 76tr, 76c, 77tc,

Derek Fell: back inside flap br, 44cb, 58—59, 58bl, 160tr. Roger Foley: design 87cl, 87cr. Felix Rigau: design Isabelle Greene 41 tr. Gary Rogers: back jacket

Sheela Lampietti 96cb, /design Oehme 8c van Sweden, Washington 2 ltcr, 21tr. cl, 138cr, 165tr. Derek St Romaine: front inside c, (design Bonita Bulaitis)

F.L.P.A: Chris Mattison 1 37bc; David T. Grewcock 97cra; E 8c D Hosking 116bl; 36—37, 46tr, 71 cr /design Bonita Bulaitis 172bc, 172r, 172cl, 173tc, 173cr, 173br.

M.J.Thomas 97tr; P.A. Hayes 42—43; Roger Wilmshurst 81cb, 99cl; Silvestris 80bc. Susan A. Roth: 29ca, 104cl, 1 24tr, 130tr, (design Neil Diboll) 1 19tr. Vivien

Nancy Gardiner: design Patrick Watson 20c, 24tr, 62—63 /design Felicity Flint Russell: design Nicole deVesian front inside tr, 4fl col(vii), 5fr col(vii), 24br,

142-143, 143crb /design Mr 8c Mrs R Saunders 164. Garden Picture Library: 29cb, 56bl, 144bc, 144-145, 144-145c, 145tc, 146tr, 146bc, 147tl, 147tr, 147bl,

Gary Rogers 29tr, 161 be; Henk Dijkman 98br, 1 36br, 1 83cr; J.S.Sira 71 be; John 147br. Sealand Aerial Photography Ltd: 26-27c. Harry Smith Collection:

Glover 4fl col(iii), 5fr col(iii), 57tl, 91tr, 112bl; Kate Zari Roberts 154-155; Kim 4tr, 4fl col(v), 5fr col(v), 56cr, 127bc, 160bc, 161 clb. The Stock Market: 4fl

Beaxland front jacket br; Marijke Heuff back jacket cr, Mel Watson back jacket erb; col(viii), 5fr col(viii), 56br. Tony Stone Images: G. Ryan 8c S. Beyer 11 1 bl; Gary

Michelle Lamontagne 98bl; Morley Read 111 br; Rex Butcher back jacket bl; Ron Moon 1 37cr; Glen Allison 159ca /Liz Hymans 137cra; Martin Becka 1 58bc; Robin

Sutherland 181 tr; Steve Wooster 41 cr; John Neubauer/design Oehme 8c van Sweden Smith 149cr. James A. van Sweden: design Oehme 8c van Sweden 411 col(ix), 5fr

88-89 Garden Matters: 1 55tr. H. Gildemiester, Spain: 142c, 142cb. John col(ix), 42br, 57bl, 166bl, 167cr, 167bc, 167tr. Werner Forman Archive: Piers

Glover: 4fi col(i), Sfr col(i), 56tl, 78-79, 79cl., (Derek Jarman) 60bl, 60cl. Morris Collection, London 124cl. Peter Newark’s Western Americana: 124clb.

Georgia Glynn-Smith: 45cr, 96c, 111 tl. Isabelle Greene: 66ca, 66cra. Mick Elizabeth Whiting & Associates: Gary Chowanetz 96bl, Karl-Dietrich Buhler

Hales, Green World Pictures: design Jens Jensen 8tl, 16. Janis Hall: 9cl, 9tl, 8cl, 36bl, 39cr, (design Nils Tomer) 12, 13r, Michael Dunne 140—141, Neil

22cb, 30bl, 38bl, 41br. Gil Hanly: design Gary Boyle 44^f5c, /owner J. Lorimer 66bl. Steve Wooster: design John Brookes 6—7, 10-11 /Thijsse Park

Gibbs/design Rod Barnett 165 cr. Robert Harding Picture Library: Adam 17bl, 17br /design Piet Oudolf 18/ design Ton ter Linden 19 /design Henk

Woolfitt 64bc; Advertasia Co. Ltd 158br; Brian Hawkes 80cb; Ian A. Griffiths 64cra; Gerritsen 25tl /design John Brookes 34—35 /Thijsse Park 45br /design Ton ter

65crb, 80crb; Luca InvernizziTettoni 158bl;Tom Macke 1 1 ltr. Robert Harding Linden 50—51 /design John Brookes 53 /designTon ter Linden 68—69 /design John

Syndication: Rob Judges /Homes 8c Gardens 46^4-7c. Dennis Hardley Brookes 70 /design Henk Gerritsen 72—73c, 72bl, 72—73, 73ac, 74cl, 74bc, 74cr,

Photography: 178crb, 178br, 179br. Jerry Harpur: Arabella Lennox-Boyd 71ar 75bl, 75br /Thijsse Park 104cr, 105 /design Ton ter Linden 1 141 /design John

20 /design John Brookes (owners Julian 8c Marilyn Mulville, Argentina) Brookes 116—117, 162b, 165cl. Michael S.Yamashita: 13tl, 1 3tr.
92 Bibliography

Bibliography
General United States

The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia oj Garden Plants; Ausubel, Kenny, Seeds of Change:The Living Treasure; Harper, 1994.

Dorling Kindersley, 1997.

Bye, A. E., in Abstracting the Landscape, edited by Catherine Howett;

The Department of Landscape Architecture, The Pennsylvania State

RHS Plant Finder 1997-98-, Dorling Kindersley, 1997.
University, 1990.

Robinson, Peter, The American Horticultural Society Complete Guide to

Druse, Ken, The Natural Garden; Clarkson Potter, 1989.
Water Gardening; Dorling Kindersley, 1997

Druse, Ken, with Roach, Margaret, The Natural Habitat Garden;

Britain
Clarkson Potter, 1994.
Brookes, Alan, Woodlands: A Practical Handbook; The British Trust for

Conservation Volunteers, 1980.

Francis, Mark, and Hester Jr., RandolphT. (eds), The Meaning of Gardens;

MIT Press, 1990.

Chambers, John, Wild Flower Gardening; Ward Lock Ltd, 1989.

Gardening withWildflowers and Native Plants; Brooklyn Botanic Garden,

Common Ground, The: The History, Evolution and Future of Britain’s
Inc., 1989.
Countryside; Hutchinson & Co., 1980.

Going Native: Biodiversity in Our Omi Backyards; Brooklyn Botanic Garden,

Fortey, Richard, The Hidden Landscape: A Journey into the Geological Past; Inc., 1994.

Jonathan Cape, 1993.

Native Perennials; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Inc., 1996.

Garton, Kate, Rothschild, Miriam, and de Rothschild, Lionel, The

Rothschild Gardens; Gaia Books Ltd, 1996. Natural Lawn and Alternatives, The; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Inc., 1993.

Harper, Peter, with Light, Jeremy, and Madsen, Chris, The Natural Ottesen, Carole, The Native Plant Primer; Harmony Books, 1995.

Garden Book: Gardening in Harmony with Nature; Gaia Books Ltd, 1994.
Ottesen, Carole, The New American Garden; Macmillan Publishing, 1987.

Jill, Duchess of Hamilton, Scottish Plants for Scottish Gardens; H.M

Pavlik, Bruce M., with Muick, Pamela C., Johnson, Sharon G., and
Stationery Office
Popper, Marjorie, Oaks of California; California Press, 1991.

Kingsbury, Noel, The New Perennial Garden; Frances Lincoln, 1996.

Australia

Smith, Bernard, with Smith, Terry, Australian Painting 1788-1990;

Patchwork Landscape, 77ie;The Reader’s Digest Association, 1984.
Oxford University Press, 1991.

Sand Dunes: A Practical Handbook; The British Trust for Conservation

Snape, Diana, Australian Native Gardens; Lothian Publishing Co. Ltd, 1992.
Volunteers, 1979.

Vandenbeld, John, Nature of Australia; Collins, 1988.

Stevens, John, The National Trust Book of Wild Flower Gardening; Dorling

Kindersley, 1987.
South Africa

Huntley, Brian J. (ed), with the assistance of Gelderblom, Caroline, and

Continent du Plessis, Emsie, Botanical Diversity in Southern Africa; National Botanical

Leopold, Rob, Nature &_Garden Art; 1996. Institute, 1994.

Stationen in der StadtLandschaft; Perennials Perspectives, Creative Ecology Tropical

and Integral Landscape Design, Srnheim Symposium, June 1996. Warren, William, The Tropical Garden; Thames & Hudson, 1991.
John Brookes is one of the most original and emulated
garden designers working today. His popular School of

Landscape Design at Denmans, his celebrated home

and garden in southern England, is where many of the
natural gardening principles described in this book have

developed. Brookes undertakes lecture tours that take

him from South America to Australia, Europe to South

Africa, and North America to Japan. He is currently

Chairman of the Society of Garden Designers in the UK.

His numerous books on creating gardens and landscapes

include the Garden Design Workbook and The Indoor Garden,
both published by DK Publishing, Inc. He has written

for several world-famous magazines and has appeared

on television on many occasions.

DK PUBLISHING, INC.
95 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

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http: / / www.dk.com
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